



MINUTES 



OF A 



CONSPIRACY 



AGAINST THE 



LIBERTIES OF AMERICA. 



V 



f 



Q 






MINUTES 



/ tf 



CONSPIRACY 



AGAINST THE 



LIBERTIES OF AMERICA. 




$I)ilabdj]{)ia: 

JOHN CAMPBELL 

MDCCCLXV. 



PREFACE. 



SHOULD the learned reader find thefe 
pages crude, trite and meagre, it is 
hoped he may Stay his " vengeful hand," 
when he is told they were compiled by a mere 
apprentice in the field of knowledge, and amidft 
avocations far removed from the paths of litera- 
ture. 

Should it, again, be objected that accufations 
fuch as contained in the pamphlet here republished 
had better have been left unrecorded, it is humblv 
Submitted, that he who writes hiftory mould write S 
it truly, and that the perfect Statue gives a better 
idea of the Subject than a baffo- relievo. 

W. 




INTRODUCTION. 




ONGRESS, I doubt not, will have heard 
of the plot that was forming among 
many difaffected perfons in this city and 
government for aiding the King's troops 
upon their arrival. No regular plan feems to 
have been digefted ; but feveral perfons have 
been enlifted and fworn to join them. The 
matter, I am in hopes, by a timely difcovery, will be 
fupprefled and put a flop to. Many citizens and 
others, among whom is the mayor, are now in con- 
finement. The matter has been traced up to Governor 
Tryon ; and the mayor appears to have been a princi- 
pal agent between him and the perfons concerned in it. 
The plot had been communicated to fome of the 
army, and part of my guard engaged in it. Thomas 
Hickey, one of them, has been tried, and by the 

unanimous 



( vi ) 

unanimous opinion of a court-martial, is fentenced to 
die, having enlifted himfelf, and engaged others. The 
fentence, by the order of the whole council of general 
officers, will be put in execution to-day at eleven 
o'clock. The others are not tried. I am hopeful 
this example will produce many falutary confequences, 
and deter others from entering into the like traitorous 
practices. " l 

So, on the 28th June, 1776, wrote Wafhington to 
the Prefident of the Congrefs, then fitting at Phila- 
delphia, reflecting a confpiracy, whofe flory is thus 
related by the lateft of his biographers : 

"The wildefl reports," fays Wafhington Irving, 
"were in circulation concerning it. Some of the Tories 
were to break down King's Bridge, others were to 
blow up the magazines, fpike the guns, and mafTacre 
all the field-officers. Wafhington was to be killed or 
delivered up to the enemy. Some of his own body- 
guard were faid to be in the plot. 

Several publicans in the city were pointed out, as 
having aided or abetted the plot. One was landlord 
of the Highlander, at the corner of Beaver Street and 
Broadway. Another difpenfed liquor under the fign 
of Robin Hood. Another named Lowry, defcribed 

as 

1 Sparks's Wafiington, hi, 140-1. 



( vii) 

as a " fat man in a blue coat," kept tavern in a low 
houfe oppoiite the Ofwego market. Another, James 
Houlding, kept a beer houfe in Tryon Row, oppoiite 
the gates of the upper barracks. It would feem as if 
a net work of corruption and treachery had been 
woven throughout the city by means of thefe liquor 
dealers. One of the moil noted, however, was Corbie, 
whofe tavern was faid to be " to the fouth-eail of 
General Waihington's houfe, to the weftward of 
Bayard's Woods, and north of Lifpenard's Meadows," 
from which it would appear that, at that time, the 
general was quartered at what was formerly called 
Richmond Hill; a maniion furrounded by trees, at a 
ihort diilance from the city, in rather an ifolated iitua- 
tion. 

A committee of the New York Congrefs, of which 
John Jay was chairman, traced the plot up to Gov- 
ernor Tryon, who, from his fafe retreat on ihip- 
board, acted through agents on fhore. The moil im- 
portant of thefe was David Matthews, the tory mayor 
of the city. He was accufed of diiburiing money to 
enliil men, purchafe arms, and corrupt the foldiery. 

Wafhington was authorized and requeiled by the 
committee to caufe the mayor to be apprehended, and 
all his papers fecured. Matthews was at that time 

reiiding 



( viii ) 

refiding at Flatbufh, on Long Ifland, at no great dif- 
tance from General Greene's encampment. Wafhing- 
ton tranfmitted the warrant of the committee to the 
general on the 21ft, with directions that it mould " be 
executed with precifion, and exactly by one o'clock 
of the enfuing morning, by a careful officer." 

Precifely at the hour of one, a detachment from 
Greene's brigade furrounded the houfe of the mayor, 
and fecured his perfon ; but no papers were found, 
though diligent fearch was made. 

Numerous other arrefts took place, and among the 
\ number fome of Wafhington's body-guard. A great 
difmay fell upon the tories. Some of thofe on Long 
Ifland, who had proceeded to arm themfelves, finding 
the plot difcovered, fought refuge in woods and rao- 
rafTes. Wafhington directed that thofe arrefted, who 
belonged to the army, mould be tried by a court- 
martial, and the reft handed over to the fecular power. 

According to ftatements made before the committee, 
five guineas bounty was offered by Governor Tryon 
to each man who mould enter the King's fervice ; with 
a promife of two hundred acres of land for himfelf, 
one hundred for his wife, and fifty for each child. 
The men thus recruited were to act on more, in co- 
operation with the King's troops when they came. 

Corbie's 



( ix ) 

Corbie's tavern, near Wafhington's quarters, was a 
kind of rendezvous of the confpirators. There one 
Gilbert Forbes, a gunfmith, "a fhort, thick man, 
with a white coat," enlifted men, gave them money, 
and " fwore them on the book to fecrecy." From 
this houfe a correfpondence was kept up with Governor 
Tryon on fhipboard, through a " mulatto-colored 
negro, dreffed in blue clothes." At this tavern it was 
fuppofed Wafhington's body-guards were tampered 
with. Thomas Hickey, one of the guards, a dark- 
complexioned man, five feet fix inches high, and well, 
set, was faid not only to be enlifted, but to have aided 
in corrupting his comrades ; among others, Greene the 
drummer, and Johnfon the fifer. 

It was further teftified before the committee, that 
one Sergeant Graham, an old foldier, formerly of the 
royal artillery, had been employed by Governor 
Tryon to prowl around and furvey the grounds and 
works about the city, and on Long Ifland, and that, 
on information thus procured, a plan of operations 
had been concerted. On the arrival of the fleet, a 
man-of-war mould cannonade the battery at Red 
Hook; while that was doing, a detachment of the 
army mould land below with cannon, and by a circuit- 
ous march furprife and ftorm the works on Long- 
B Ifland. 



(* ) 

Ifland. The fhipping, then, with the remainder of the 
army, were to divide, one part to run up the Hudfon 
the other up the Eaft River ; troops were to land 
above New York, fecure the pafs at King's Bridge, and 
cut offall communication between the city and country. 1 

Much of the evidence given was of a dubious kind. 
It was certain that perfons had fecretly been enlifted, 
and fworn to hoftile operations, but Wafhington did 
not think that any regular plan had been digefted by 
the confpirators. "The matter," wrote he, "I am 
in hopes, by a timely difcovery, will be suppreffed. 2 

According to the mayor's own admiffion before the 
committee, he had been cognizant of attempts to enlift 
tories and corrupt Wafhington's guards, though he 
declared that he had difcountenanced them. He had 
on one occafion, alfo, at the requeft of Governor 
Tryon, paid money for him to Gilbert Forbes, the 
gunfmith, for rifles and round bored guns which he 
had already furnifhed, and for others which he was to 
make. He had done fo, however (according to his 
account), with great reluctance, and after much hefita- 
tion and delay, warning the gunfmith that he would 
be hanged if found out. The mayor with a number 
of others, were detained in prifon to await a trial. 

Thomas 

1 Am. Arch. 4th scries, vi, 1177. 

2 Wafhington to the Prefidcnt of Congrefs, June 28. 



( *i ) 

Thomas Hickey, the individual of Wafhington's 
guard, was tried before a court-martial. He was an 
Irifhman, and had been a deferter from the Britifh 
army. The court-martial found him guilty of mutiny 
and fedition, and treacherous correfpondence with the 
enemy, and fentenced him to be hanged. 

The fentence was approved by Wafhington, and 
was carried promptly into effect, in the mod folemn 
and impreffive manner, to ferve as a warning and ex- 
ample in this time of treachery and danger. On the 
morning of the 28th, all the officers and men off duty, 
belonging to the brigades of Heath, Spencer, Stirling 
and Scott, affembled under arms at their refpeclive 
parades at 10 o'clock, and marched thence to the 
ground. Twenty men from each brigade, with bayo- 
nets fixed, guarded the prifoner to the place of execu- 
tion, which was a field near the Bowery Lane. There 
he was hanged in the prefence, we are told, of near 
twenty thoufand perfons. * 

While the city was ftill brooding over this doleful 
fpectacle, four mips of war, portentous vifitants, ap- 
appeared off the Hook, flood quietly in at the Nar- 
rows, and dropped anchor in the bay. 

In his orderly book, Wafhington expreffed a hope 
that the unhappy fate of Thomas Hickey, executed 

that 



( » ) 

that day for mutiny, fedition and treachery, would be 
a warning to every foldier in the line, to avoid the 
crimes for which he fuffered." 

Mr. Irving then adds the following note: "As a 
fpecimen of the reports which circulated throughout 
the country, concerning this confpiracy, we give an 
extract from a letter, written from Wethersfleld, in 
Connecticut, 9th of July, 17^6, by the Reverend 
John Marfh. 

"You have heard of the infernal plot that has been 
difcovered. About ten days before any of the con- 
fpirators were taken up, a woman went to the general 
and defired a private audience. He granted it to her, 
and fhe let him know that his life was in danger, and 
gave him fuch an account of the confpiracy as gained 
his confidence. He opened the matter to a few 
friends, on whom he could depend. A ftrict watch 
was kept night and day, until a favorable opportunity 
occurred ; when the general went to bed as ufual, arofe 
about two o'clock, told his lady he was a going, with 
fome of the Provincial Congrefs, to order fome tories 
feized — defired fhe would make herfelf eafy, and go 
to deep. He went off without any of his aides-de- 
camp, except the captain of his life guard, was joined 
by a number of chofen men, with lanterns, and proper 

inftruments 



( xiii ) 

inftruments to break open houfes, and before fix 
o'clock next morning, had forty men under guard at 
the City Hall, among whom was the mayor of the 
city, feveral merchants, and five or fix of his own 
life-guard. Upon examination, one Forbes confefled 
that the plan was to afTaffinate the general, and as 
many of the fuperior officers as they could, and to 
blow up the magazine upon the appearance of the 
enemy's fleet, and to go off in boats prepared for that 
purpofe to join the enemy. Thos. Hickey, who has 
been executed, went from this place. He came from 
Ireland a few years ago. What will be done with the 
mayor is uncertain. He can't be tried by court- 
martial, and it is faid, there is no law of that colony 
by which he can be condemned. May he have his 
deferts." ' 

Under date of July 4th, 1776, Chriftopher Marfhall 
records : " Accounts from New York are, that, 
Friday laft, one of General Wafhington's guard was 
executed in a field near that city for mutiny and con- 
fpiracy, he being one of thofe who had formed a plot 
to aflaflinate the flafF officers, blowing up the magazines 
and fecuring the papers of the town on the arrival of 
the Tyrant George the Third's fleet before this city." 

The 

Urving's Wafhington, ii, 242, 247. 



( xiv ) 

The reader may alfo confult Thatcher, Gordon, Wat- 
fon and Force's Archives; from the latter of which, 
however, copious extracts may be found in the notes 
appended. 

Refpecting the charge againft the morality of Wafh- 
ington — often afferted by his cotemporaries — whether 
true or not, and we mould be loathe to believe it, it 
muft be recollected, that at that day a laxnefs of 
focial virtue was not viftted with fo fevere a cenfure as 
it is in our own time — and that fome of the promi- 
nent men of the age were not proof againft tempta- 
tion, we know from the confeflions of Hamilton and 
the intrigues of Burr. 




MINUTES 

OF THE 

TRIAL and EXAMINATION 

OF 

CERTAIN PERSONS, 

IN TH E 

Province of NEW YORK, 

CHARGED WITH BEING ENGAGED IN A 

CONSPIRACY againft the Authority, 
of the CONGRESS, 

AND 

The LIBERTIES of AMERICA. 




LONDON: 
Printed for J. BEW, No. 28, Pater-noster-Row. 



M DCC LXXXVI. 

[ Price One Shilling. ] 

n 



ERRATA. 

Page 5. line 12, for injiduous, read infidious. P. 12. 1. 15. for dijfolve 
r. difclofe. P. 6. 1. 10, for ever, r. w». P. 8, 1. 1 1, for Dijlrefs 
County, r. Dutcbefs County. P. 8, 1. 20, after brewhoufe dele the ; and 
read one o'clock in the morning. 



PREFACE. 



"VY7HILE the city of New- York was 
* * in the pofTeffion of the American 
army, great numbers of the inhabit- 
ants were feized, accufed of being con- 
cerned in a confpiracy, and fent prifoners 
into Connecticut. Some were brought 
to a trial, found guilty, and condemned 
as traitors. Great difcoveries, it was faid, 
were made of plots againft the congrefs. 
But the trial of the culprits was managed 
with fo much fecrecy that nothing of con- 
fequence tranfpired ; fo that many were 

induced 
C 



( iy ) 

induced to believe, that it was an artful 
fcheme of the congrefs and committee to 
punifh their internal enemies, or prevent 
them from doing mifchief, without alarm- 
ing the body of the people. 

The following minutes throw much 
light on the affair. They were difcovered 
(on the late capture of New- York by the 
Britifh troops) among the papers of a 
perfon who appears to have been fecretary 
to the committee. They will furnifh 
entertainment to thofe who wifh to know 
the particulars of this myfterious tranf- 
action. 



MI- 



( I ) 



MINUTES 



O F T H E 



COMMITTEE, &c. 



ILLIAM COLLIER (waiter at the Serjeant's 
Arms Tavern, kept by Alexander Sinclair, 
near the old Barracks) waited upon Jofeph Smith, 
Efq., in the city, and informed him, that he had fome 
affairs of great importance to communicate to him if 
he could depend upon being fecured himfelf from 
danger. Upon which Mr. Smith gave him all poffible 
affurances, that fo far from being punifhed, he mould 
be considerably rewarded if his difcoveries were of any 
importance. Encouraged by this, he faid, that a 
number of the inhabitants of the city had met for 
many months at the houfe aforefaid, that having heard 
them during his attendance fpeak very often difrefpect- 
ful of the congrefs, and perceiving them very much 
engaged in writing letters, and remarking that they 
always fufpended their converfation or fpoke refervedly 
when he was prefent, his fufpicions were excited that 
they did not meet merely for entertainment. On 

which 



( 2 ) 

which he concealed himfelf in an adjoining chamber, 
and, among other things, heard them fpeak of an 
engagement which had been entered into in that and 
the neighboring province to free themfelves from what 
they called the damnable oppreflion of the congrefs ; 
that he underftood from their converfation, that arms 
were diftributed among their partizans, and that a 
correfpondence was eftablifhed between them and the 
army, and that they had formed a defign of riflng and 
making themfelves matters of fome of the principal 
perfons in the army of the American States, and efcap- 
ing to Staten Ifland ; that he learned from their con- 
verfation, that a correfpondence for this purpofe had 
been kept up between them, and certain perfons in the 
Britifh fervice, to whom they gave information of the 
ftate of affairs amongft us, and from whom they re- 
ceived council and money for the better execution of 
their defigns. Mr. Smith questioned him concerning 
the names of the perfons who met at his mailer's 
houfe, and learned from him, that Mr. Forbes, Garri- 
fon, Cockfhall, Burke, and Sebring, were the moll 
active perfons. The provincial congrefs on receiving 
this information from Mr. Smith, being determined 
to proceed with the utmoft caution, ordered a party 
of men the next night to feize Mr. Gilbert Forbes, 
Gunfmith, and to convey him to fafe cuftody ; accord- 
ingly a party under the command of Capt. Labatteau 
proceeded about two in the morning to the houfe of 
Mr. Forbes, in the Broad-way ; fome of them having 
forced their way into the yard to prevent him making 

his 



( 3 ) 

his efcape, the Captain knocked at the front door, and 
demanded admittance, on its being opened, and find- 
ing the culprit was in an upper room in bed, rufhed 
up flairs, broke open the door, and feized him before 
he could meditate an efcape. They then required his 
keys, which, after fome hefitation, he delivered upon 
being told that what they did was by the order of the 
provincial congrefs ; they then conveyed him to an 
apartment in the New Goal, where he was properly 
fecured. His papers were delivered to the provincial 
congrefs, which met the next day, among which were 
many letters and minutes which threw great light on 
the defigns of the confpirators. The following among 
many other interesting ones were read at the board : 

Copy of an AJfociation entered into on the 13th of May, 
1776. 

id. "We the underwritten being firmly attached to 
the glorious constitution of Great Britain, loyal fubjects 
of our gracious Sovereign, King George the Third, 
and deeply fenfible of the miferies brought on this 
devoted country, by the wicked artifices of an ambi- 
tious faction, do heartily and fincerely covenant and 
agree and pledge ourfelves to each other by every 
thing that is honourable and facred, that we will dili- 
gently and faithfully endeavour to reflore the constitu- 
tional government of thefe colonies, and the happy 
connection that once fubfifted between Great Britain 
and America. 

2d. 



U ) 

2d. " That for this purpofe we will zealoufly put in 
practice every honed method to inculcate loyalty in 
the minds of the people, to reprefent in their true 
colours the oppreffions, infiduous machinations, and 
cruel perfecutions of an illegal and arbitrary congrefs, 
and that we will feize every opportunity to diffolve their 
councils, and fruftrate their operations : That every 
member of this afTbciation binds himfelf in the mod: 
folemn and facred manner to be faithful to the common 
caufe, and to retain with the utmoft caution the 
fecrets committed to him. 

3d. "That a committee be appointed for the tranf- 
action of buflnefs, and for carrying on acorrefpondence 
with the members of this fociety residing in any of the 
counties of this or neighboring provinces; that the 
members as many as can, will meet once a week for 
management of our common affairs. 

4th. " That no perfon mall be admitted a member 
except he has paffed an examination with the com- 
mittee. 

5th. " Should any member of this afTbciation fall 
under a fufpicion, be taken prifoner, or even punifhed 
with death by our enemies, he mail look upon himfelf 
as bound in honour and confcience not to betray any 
of his afTbciates, or to communicate any of the fecrets 
of this fociety." 

The following letters, with the fuperfcriptions and 
fignatures erafed, were alfo read at the board. 

"My 



( 5 ) 

" My dear Friend, 

" Our good caufe thrives mod wonderfully and pro- 
videntially hereabouts. We have great hopes that 
the tyranny of our cruel tafk- matters will foon be 
ended. The little finger of thefe defpots is heavier 
than the loins of the raoft arbitrary miniftry. They 
mew their fuperiority only by their cruelty. The 
people groan under their oppreflions, and comparing 
their prefent mifery with their former happinefs and 
tranquility, long to throw off the yoke. They plunder 
our barns, enter our houfes, and forcibly take from 
us what we have fweated and toiled for ; giving us 
in return nothing but their paltry paper. If we are 
to be flaves, let us be fo to the lion, and not to the 
loufy dirty vermin of New England. We have had 
many meetings lately, and fo many are defirous of 
aflbciating with us, that we are afraid leaft the fecret 
might tranfpire by being communicated to too great a 
number; we have already two hundred aflbciators in 
this county who have bound themfelves by the mod 
folemn afleverations to fidelity; we are much at a lofs 
to know how to act about the oath of allegiance to the 
congrefs, which 'tis faid they intend foon to impofe on 
us. Heaven fend us a fpeedy deliverance. We are 
well fupplied with arms, which every man keeps hid, 
to ufe when occafion permits, but we are in great want 
of powder. The drubbing which they had in Canada 
works wonderfully, and if General Howe mould give 
them one found thrashing, numbers will be ready to 
fly to his protection ; depend upon our conftancy and 

fidelity 



( 6 ) 

fidelity. Let us know all your motions that we 

may co-operate together. This goes by Edward 

Staggs, a faft friend to our intereft. God blefs the 
King. Amen." 

Dijirefs County, 

May 15, 1776." 

Numb. II. 

"Sir, 

"We hope that according to your promife you will 
have the rifle guns ready by Saturday night, as we 
mail fend a boat down under the direction of James 
Clavering, to lie off the old battery, near George Har- 
rifon's brewhoufe ; about ten o'clock in the morning 
he will fend his negroe man Cuff, to acquaint you with 
his coming, fo that if you can get any of our affociates 
who are under arms to conceal them in fome houfe 
nigh, we may be able to carry them off. By all means 
take care and ufe great precautions, for if we fhould 
be blown up, we fhould meet no mercy. Lt. Steele 
would be the moll proper perfon to be employed on 
this fervice. My love to your wife and children, and 
to all true hearts under the rofe. 

Your's, ever 

X 

Numb. III. 

"Sir, 

" Embracing this good opportunity, I give you 
much joy of the death of that arch rebel and firebrand 

Montgomery, 



( 7 ) 

Montgomery, and hope e'er long it will be the fate of 
many more. I can't help laughing to fee the long 
faces of many of my neighbours on this occafion ; had 
I my wifh their necks mould be as long as their faces : 
by all accounts it has kicked up a devil of an uproar 
at Carpenters hall, and I fuppofe we mail very foon 
have another faft. — faft of the flefh I mean, for their 
pious paftors take care to give the faints on fuch oc- 
cafions a fpiritual feaft of treafon and rebellion. My 
neighbor Voorhuys fays there muft have been treachery 
in the cafe, and thinks that Donald Campbell is a 
very good hand at a retreat. Things go very bravely 
on with us. The old farmers fhake their heads, and 
fay, this is not the thing, we long to fee fome more 
Englifh guineas among us. Jabez Fifher and I have 
taken occafion to go much among them, and tell them 
the deiigns of the congrefs are all impofition, that they 
never fufFered any thing from England, and that we 
mail never be happy till the old times are reftored, 
that old John Bull is rouzed at laft, and that what 
they thought fear or weaknefs was nothing but mercy 
and gentlenefs. We now meet frequently at each 
others houfes, drink the King on our marrow-bones, 
and confufion to the congrefs ; we have fifty names 
now down on our affociation paper, all {launch hearty 
fellows, only waiting an opportunity to mew our 
loyalty. I had an affray lately with one of their offi- 
cers, a Capt. Lefferts, who was quartered in our neigh- 
bourhood. He fent a foldier the other day to purchafe 
fome of my poultry, I told him I could not fpare any; 
D on 



(8 ) 

on which the villain had the impudence to tell me he 
came by the order of his captain, and would have 
them. My choler got the better of my prudence, and 
I pufhed him out of my houfe, and fhut the door 
upon him. The captain waited on me the next day, 
and afked me how I dared to treat one of the congrefs's 
foldiers and his fervant in fo audacious a manner. I 
told him the property was mine, and would ufe it as I 
pleafed ; he made no anfwer, but went away in a paffion, 
and foon returned with a party of his myrmidons, who 
infulted me in the grofTeft manner, took away my 
poultry, and broke my windows ; I have fince applied 
to the committee for redrefs, but could not obtain a 
hearing, as I fuppofe they partook of the plunder. 
Such is our glorious liberty, or rather the liberty, 
which thefe mifcreants take with us. I hope, how- 
ever, we fhall foon have fatisfa&ion of thefe rafcals. 
Honeft Savage is here, and fends his compliments 
to you. Kifs Betfey for me ; my fpoufe defires to be 
remembered"to you both. 

I am, 
Your friend and fervant, 

Poughkeepjey, 1776. 



The provincial congrefs having taken the above 
letters under confideration, and finding from other 
circumftances, that a moft wicked and dangerous con- 

fpiracy 



( 9 ) 

fpiracy was formed againft the liberties of America, 
judged proper to appoint a committee of enquiry, 
with powers to examine into the nature of it, and to 
fit in judgment in bringing to condign punifhment 
fuch perfon or perfons as they mould find concerned 
in it. The following perfons were appointed a com- 
mittee for the purpofe. 

President. 
Peter R. Livingfton. 
J. M. Scott, Peter Curtenius, 

Marinus Willett, John Abeel, 

Alex. M'Dougal, Corn. Byvank, 

John Berrian, John Stoutenburgh, 

Here. Mulligen, James WefTels, 

Gerfhom Mott, John Crimfhire. 

Gilbert Smith, Secretary. 

June 23. The committee met at the houfe of Mr. 
Jafper Drake, and proceeded upon bufinefs ; Mr. 
Abraham Livingfton attending, informed the com- 
mittee, that the night before he waited upon Mr. 
Gilbert Forbes, at his apartment in the New Goal, 
and laying before him in the ftrongeft colours the 
danger of his fituation, and that there was no other 
way for him to obtain mercy but by making a full 
confeflion. The prifoner fignified to him, that if 
fecurity fhould be given him for his own perfonal 
fafety, he would difclofe matters of great importance : 

the 



( *o ) 

the committee taking into ferious confideration this 
information, ordered the prifoner to be brought before 
them under a proper guard. 

Mr. Forbes being brought into their prefence, dif- 
covered great figns of confternation and guilt, and 
with a faultering voice begged the committee would 
allow him fome time to compofe his mind, and permit 
him to have council to aflift him in his defence, as he 
was entirely unprepared to anfwer any queftions, and 
might prejudice himfelf by his ignorance of the forms 
ufually practifed in fuch cafes. 

Prefident. Sir, we fhall fhew you all the candour and 
juftice you can expect. The queftions we mail put to 
you are only concerning matters of fact, and if you 
wifh for time only to be better able to prevaricate and 
evade, I inform you that your requeft cannot be 
granted. Sir, the crime you are charged with is of a 
moft heinous nature, and you are little entitled even 
to the formality of atrial, neverthelefs, Mr. Forbes, as 
we have been informed, you are difpofed to fhew the 
fincerity of your repentance by making an ample dif- 
covery, and wiping off your guilt againft your country, 
by enabling us to detect and avert the mifchiefs you 
intended againft it, fuch conduct may recommend you 
to the clemency and mercy of this court. 

Prifoner. I beg, gentlemen, you will not be harfh 
and hafty with me. I am fure I never meant any 
harm againft my country, but minded the bufinefs of 
my fhop ; I have been treated very cruelly, torn out 
of my bed at the dead of night, my fick wife and 

family 



( » ) 

family alarmed, my papers feized, and my houfe ran- 
facked, without my knowing why or wherefore, and 
thrown into a prifon, denied the council or afliftance 
of any friend or acquaintance. 

Mr. Mulligen. Sir, Sir ! I am furprifed you have 
the boldnefs to fpeak in this manner before the com- 
mittee, after what you have been guilty of. We do 
not fit here to hear you criminate, neither will fuch 
language avail you. Sir, we have authentic evidence 
of your having been concerned in a hellifh confpiracy, 
and we were informed that you was defirous of obtain- 
ing mercy, by making an honeft and full confeflion ; 
as a friend, I advife you to conceal nothing, as you 
hope for pardon. 

Mr. Curtenius. Then you know nothing, fir, of an 
afibciation ? you never have received any letters from 
the country containing treafonable matters ? you never 
met I fuppofe at the Serjeant's Arms ? 

Prifoner. Indeed, gentlemen, I am entirely innocent, 
I beg you will allow me time to prepare for my de- 
fence. 

Mr. M'DougaL Gentlemen, I would recommend 
that if the prifoner continues obftinate, he fhould be 
remanded to prifon ; we have no time for delay; delays 
are dangerous, gentlemen, the villainous defigns of 
our enemies rauft be averted by fome fpeedy examples, 
no punifhment can be too fevere for men who have 
confpired the ruin of us all. 

Prefident. I would advife you, Mr. Forbes, ferioufly 
to weigh your critical fituation, and to plead guilty, 

for 



( " ) 

for we are in no want of proof fufficient to juftify us 
in condemning you to the mod ignominious punifh- 
ment; if your confeflion is candid and clear, you may 
in fome degree repair the mifchiefs you have occa- 
sioned, and in the name of this committee I promife 
vou a full and free pardon, if you will difclofe the 
whole without referve. 

Prijoner. How, Sir, would you have me to confefs, 
when I know nothing that I am guilty of againft my 
country. I have afked you for time and to be tried 
by a jury of my neighbours, which you refufe me. 

Mr. Livingjlon. You are not, I would have you to 
know, to dictate to the court, we are here to try and 
judge you by the authority of the congrefs. You will 
not prefume to difpute, I hope, its authority. Ser- 
jeant call in Mr. Collier. 

Collier being fworn, he depofed what he told to Mr. 
Smith, of his having met at the tavern with Mr. Child, 
Roberts, Abrams, &c. &c. that Mr. Forbes was 
generally there, and a very active member. The 
following letter, among others, which were taken at 
Mr. Forbe's houfe, was read. 
" Gentlemen, 

" I have been thinking about our fkeam, and I do 
think that we cannot take too much care, that the 
Wigs do not finde us oute, what we are about, as they 
have two many on there fide of the queftione, and 
may take us up. I propofe then for us to meet on 
Satorday alone by hourfelves in the wud near King- 
bridge on the left hande fide of the rode from Yorke, 

and 



( i3 ) 

and that eache man fhud bring a piftal or cutlafh with 
him in order to defende hourfelf, if needfulle. My 
boye is to bringe me your anfwer, and he knowes 
nothinge whiche I have wrote, 

I am, 
Gentlemen, 

your hum. farvant 

in Affictione." 

Preftdent. Do you know thefe letters ? 

Prifoner. They were left with me by a friend among 
fome other papers ; they were not directed to me, and 
are none of my concern. 

Preftdent. Do you know the writers of them ? 

Prifoner. They were not fent to me — I am entirely 
unprepared — I cannot give anfwers to fuch queftions. 

(The court having taken into view the obftinacy of 
the prifoner, remanded him into clofe confinement.) 
Jacobus Lawrence was then brought into court, by 
Mr. Livingfton, who faid he could give fome informa- 
tion on the bufinefs of the committee. 

Jacobus Lawrence fworn. 

Court. You keep a tavern at Hempftead, on Long 
Ifland ? 

Lawrence. Yes, Sir. 

Court. Pray, Mr. Lawrence, do you know the 
names of the perfons, I think they were fix in number, 
that dined at your houfe on Sunday the 9th of June 
laft, and do you remember to have heard any of their 
converfation upon public matters ? 

Lawrence. 



( H ) 

Lawrence. There was only five, their names I do 
not know, but they talked to me about lying at my 
houfe the enfuing plovering feafon ; one of them 
afked me if I was Whig or Tory ? I told him I 
was for peace : upon which a fecond faid, there never 
would be peace whilft fuch men as compofed the con- 
grefs had the command. Upon this I was alarmed, 
and one of them afked me what was the matter? I 
faid, for God's fake, gentlemen, take care what you 
fay, the honourable congrefs is not to be fpoken of in 
this manner. 

Court. Could you not difcover, Mr. Lawrence, 
where the perfons lived who fpoke fo difrefpeclfully of 
the congrefs. 

Lawrence. As I am upon my facred oath, I believe 
they live all of them at New York, but they were 
entire ftrangers to me. 

Court. Proceed, Mr. Lawrence, and inform the 
court what more paffed. 

Lawrence. The gentleman at the end of the table, 
whom I took to be a Scotchman, feemed to cough, 
and then took a pinch of fnuff; upon this not a word 
more was fpoke till I went out of the room. 

Court. Do you know, or did you hear any thing 
more that paffed ? 

Lawrence. The fhrug of the man in the corner 
raifed my fufpicions, I feemed to be very bufy about 
my bufinefs, but fet my houfekeeper, Jemima, to 
Men. 

Court. Can you depend upon the word of Jemima ? 

Lawrence. 



( *5 ) 

Lawrence. Ever fince the death of my poor wife, 
now eleven years, we have lived upon the moft 
intimate footing, and I have no reafon to doubt her 
in a fingle thing. 

Court. Well, Mr. Lawrence, what did Jemima hear ? 

Lawrence. She faid that one of the men faid, that 
fellow feems to love money, fuppofe we feel his pulfe 
on this confpiracy : as foon as the word confpiracy 
was mentioned fhe was alarmed, and called me in, 
thinking the negroes were going to rife. 

Court. Where do you mean, — into the room where 
the five perfons were ? 

Lawrence. No — into the houfe — I was at the door 
ferving two cuftomers from North Side, with a fmall 
dram of rum a-piece. She took me afide and told me 
there was a plot, or fomething like it, going forward, 
and faid, fhe wifhed thofe people were out of the 
houfe. — I faid, I would try them again, and fo made 
an excufe to go into the room for fome gingerbread, 
which is kept in a clofet ciofe by ; upon this one of 
the men faid to me, Landlord, we fhall never have 
peace in America till fomebody ferves General Wafh- 
ington as he meant to ferve the plover next feafon. 

Court. Did the others hear him fay this ? 

Lawrence. Yes ; and feemed to wait for my anfwer, 
I told them by way of drawing out of them all I could, 
(by the holinefs of my oath I meant nothing more) 
I told them, I wifhed things were as they ufed to be, 
but I did not fee how any body dared to fhoot fo 
great a man as the General ; upon this the man with a 
E fnuffy 



( 16 ) 

fnuffy face, jumped up and faid there was one who 
could do that eafy enough ; and then afked me if a 
good fum of the old New- York currency would not 
tempt me to be acceflary if I was Jure no barm would 
happen to me ? I afked, where the New York currency 
was to come from ; I was told Mr. Lott had referved 
7000]. which was to be diftributed among thofe who 
would affift. I faid, aflift, to do what ? they faid, to 
murder General Wafhington and all the Livingftons. 
Upon this I faid, that his Excellency was like a faint, 
and the Livingftons, apoftles, who opened the eyes of 
the people in America, and that I fhould be afraid of 
being hanged if I was knowingly to hurt a hair of 
their heads ; upon this the Scotchman ihrugged up his 
moulders, and all were filent. I was defired to ftep 
out, but they foon after called me in again, and one 
of them gave me ten dollars to fwear fecrecy, which I 
was then tempted to do, but am now forry for it. 

This was the fubftance of the evidence given in by 
Mr. Lawrence. 

Mr. MacKeflbn then acquainted the committee, that 
Jofeph Finch waited at the door, who was defirous of 
giving the court very important information. The 
committee ordered him in accordingly. He faid if 
the congrefs would fecure him from injury or punifh- 
ment, he would difclofe matters of much confequence. 

The committee pledged their honour that he fhould 
be fafe, and promifed withal a coniiderable reward, if 
he was open and clear in his difcovery. Finch faid, 
he was a joiner by profeffion, and was working at the 

houfe 



( i7 ) 

houfe of Gerardus Beekman, commonly called Dr. 
Beekman, who being in a good humour, he was called 
up flairs, and afked to drink fome wine; the doctor 
called him a damned honefr. fellow, chucked him under 
the chin, and afked if he loved his Majefty; he faid 
he would fried the laft drop of his blood for him. 
The doctor treated him with a bottle of what he called 
his eight- year-old, and then having found him hearty 
in the caufe, carried him to the Serjeant's Arms. 

Prefident. What time did this happen ? 

Finch. About the 20th of May laft. 

Prefident. Do you remember any perfons th;it were 
prefent ? 

Finch. Yes. There was Mr. Henry Fofter, James 
Matthifon, Nicholas Antony, Thomas Degrufhe, 
Henry Carman, and many others, whom, if I had 
time, I could recollect. 

Prefident. What was the fubject of converfation ? 

Finch. They talked much that night againft the 
cruelty of the congrefs, and the cowardice and infults 
of the New-England men, and of their hopes the 
former government would be foon reftored. 

Prefident. Go on, fir, and tell us what you deem 
molt material. 

I was fent fome time after with letters to different 
parts of the country, encouraging them to union, and 
conveying money for purchafing arms and ammunition. 

Prefident. To what places were you fent ? 

Finch. To New Rochel, Poughkeepfey, Weft Chef- 
ter, Albany, and many other places. 

Court. 



( i8 ) 

Court. To what perfons were the letters directed ? 

Finch. I cannot at prefent mention them particularly, 
but I have carried fome to Thomas Fifher, John 
Amos, James Savage, Samuel Jenks, and many others, 
with whom I had many meetings, and much ferious 
converfation, upon public affairs, and brought their 
anfwers back. 

The committee then thought proper to give Mr. 
Finch time to recollect himfelf, and appointed three of 
their body to meet him the next morning, in order to 
take his information more fully and deliberately. 

James Ming was then called in, and being fworn, 

depofed. 

Ming. I am by trade a fhoemaker, and live in 
Carman-ftreet, being fent for one day to Jacob Duryee, 
after paying me for fome work I had done for the 
family, Mr. Duryee afked me what I thought of the 
times. I told him, bad enough. He faid he wifhed 
there never had been a congrefs in the world ; I told 
him it might be fo. He then talked much to me of 
the high price of things, and afked me if I did not 
wim to fee the good old times again ? I faid, yes; on 
which he gave me a glafs of wine, and drank to the 
King and Parliament, which I did too. He then told 
me that a number of friends to England, would be 
glad to fee me or any other honed man, on whom they 
could depend. I told him I would never act unhon- 
ourably. He defired me to be hum, and he would 

propofe 



( i9 ) 

propofe me to be a member ; that it mould coft me 
nothing. I then left him, and went home. 

Mr. Curtenius. Did he fay nothing to you concern- 
ing giving aid to General Howe, or information? 
Did'nt you imagine that was what he meant, when he 
fpoke of the friends to England ? 

Ming. No, Sir, not at that time, but afterwards ; if 
you pleafe, I'll tell the whole affair as it happened. 
The next week Mr. Duryee and Mr. Anthony came 
to me, and after feeing every one out of the mop, told 
me I was admitted a member of their fociety. I went 
with them to the Serjeant's Arms, and was carried 
into a room joining to the room where the fociety met. 
Mr. Byvanck. Was no oath tendered to you ? 
Ming. None but an aflbciation paper or bond. 
Mr. M'Dougal. Was it this ? (Clerk hands him 
the affociation found among Mr. Forbes' papers.) 

Ming. Yes, to the beft of my knowledge and remem- 
brance, the very fame. 

Court. What perfons were at the meeting ? Do 
you remember the tenor of the converfation ? 

Ming. It was fomething very violent againft the 
congrefs, and about reftoring the old government. 

Court. Do you recoiled: any thing that was faid 
about the diftributing arms, giving information of the 
proceedings in our camp, or of betraying General 
Wafhington ? 

Ming. I can't fay anything to that. I heard no 
particulars. 

William 



( 20 ) 

William Cooper, foldier, fworn. 

Court. Inform us what converfation you heard at 
the Serjeant's Arms ? 

Cooper. Being there the 2 1 ft of May, I heard John 
Clayford inform the company, that Mary Gibbons 
was thoroughly in their intereft, and that the whole 
would be fafe. I learnt from enquiry that Mary 
Gibbons was a girl from New Jerfey, of whom General 
Wafhington was very fond, that he maintained her 
genteelly at a houfe near Mr. Skinner's, — at the 
North River; that he came there very often late at 
night in difguife ; he learnt alfo that this woman was 
very intimate with Clayford, and made him prefents, 
and told him of what General Wafhington faid. 

Court. Did you hear Mr. Clayford fay any thing 
himfelf that night ? 

Cooper. Yes ; that he was the day before with Judith, 
fo he called her, and that fhe told him, Wafhington 
had often faid he wifhed his hands were clear of the 
dirty New-Englanders, and words to that effect. 

Court. Did you hear no mention made of any 
fcheme to betray, or feize him ? 

Cooper. Mr. Clayford faid he could eafily be feized 
and put on board a boat, and carried off, as his female 
friend had promifed fhe would affift : but all prefent 
thought it would be hazardous. 

William Savage, fworn. 

Court. Was you at the Serjeant's Arms on the 21ft 
of May ? Did you hear any thing of this nature ? 

Savage. 



. ( » ) 

Savage. I did, and nearly as the laft evidence has 
declared ; the fociety in general refufed to be concerned 
in it, and thought it a mad fcheme. 

Mr. Abeel. Pray, Mr. Savage, have not you heard 
nothing of an information that was to be given to 
Governor Tryon ? 

Savage. Yes ; papers and letters were at different 
times fhewn to the fociety, which were taken out of 
General Wafhington's pockets by Mrs. Gibbons, and 
given (as fhe pretended fome occafion of going out) to 
Mr. Clayford, who always copied them, and they 
were put into his pockets again. 

Court. What was done with thefe papers ? 

Savage. They were read at the table, copied, and 
fent off. 

Court. Where were they fent? and by what convey- 
ance? 

Savage. They were given to Mr. Matthews, who 
fent them on board the Duchefs of Gordon. 

Court. Had they no other accounts but thofe com- 
municated by Mrs. Gibbons. 

Savage. Yes ; many other papers and letters were 
read, and I was told they had information by an 
officer, a gentleman of high rank and diftin&ion, near 
General Wafhington, and in his confidence. 

Court. Could you find out who he was ? 

Anjwer. No. 

Court. By whom was his intelligence communi- 
cated ? 

Savage. By Mr. Vanderbergh. 

Court. 



( 22 ) 

Court. You cannot give any reafon to fufpect what 
officer it was ? 

Savage. No ; I could not learn who it was ; but 
was often told that he was a gentleman in whom 
General Wafhington placed great confidence, and re- 
lied much upon. 

The Court ordered him to withdraw, and the room 
to be cleared. 

Mr. Livingfton. In my opinion, gentlemen, we 
had better defer examining any more witnefTes till we 
can confult General Wafhington, and fome other 
officers, upon what has appeared. 

Mr. Scott. I think we have no time for delay, we 
may run through an examination of the witnefTes, as 
this court is an independent one, for the good of the 
public, and no time mould be loft in coming at the 
bottom of this horrid affair. 

Court. It would be but juftice to the General, as 
he is fome way affe&ed by the laft witnefTes to apprize 
him of it, and confult with him, in the mean time the 
other fufpe&ed persons mould be feized as fpeedily 
as poflible. 

The court accordingly adjourned till the 26th. 

During this interval the committee had many confer- 
ences on the fubjedt with General Wafhington, and 
many other officers. They had alfo private examina- 
tions of the prifoners. Orders were ifTued to feize the 
perfons of John Wiley, Norman Ptolomy, Totten 
and Crofsfield ; and information being given that a 
number of the confpirators were concealed at and near 

Jamaica, 



Jamaica, Long Ifland, a party of horfe were ordered 
to take them, under the command of Capt. Willett. 
When they reached Jamaica, they found the confpira- 
tors, to the number of eighteen, had retired to a wood 
on the top of a hill, determined to defend themfelves. 
Captain Willett got a fmall reinforcement, and then 
furrounded the eminence where they were pofted ; a 
brifk fire enfued as our people approached, and they 
obftinately continued to refift, till having loft one man, 
and others being dangeroufly wounded and difabled, 
they thought proper to furrender, and were brought 
prifoners to New York. 

June 29. The congrefs taking into ferious confidera- 
tion the number of difaffected perfons in the province, 
and the danger of keeping them in the city, thought 
fit to fend two hundred of them into Connecticut, to 
be kept in the different prifons till they could be 
brought conveniently to trial. 

It having appeared from ftrong evidence and many 
circum fiances, that David Matthews, Efq., Mayor of 
the City, was an aider and abetter of the confpiracy, 
and alfo the principal manager of an illegal correfpond- 
ence, he was feized by order of the provincial congrefs, 
and committed to the New Goal ; on the 3d of July, 
the committee again met, and ordered James Clayford 
to be brought before them. 

The prifoner being at the bar and fworn, 

Mr. Mott told him, by order of this committee, I 
inform you that we have the cleareft evidence of your 

F having 



( H ) 

having been treacheroufly concerned, in obtaining in- 
formation and papers relating to public affairs, which 
you delivered to certain perfons to be conveyed to the 
enemy ; that in privacy and covenant with Mary 
Gibbons, you felonioufly and fecretly copied writings 
of the commander in chief, which were afterwards fent 
to be communicated to the foes of America ; that you 
in your heart conceived and propofed a plan to feize 
on the perfon of General Wafhington, and carry him 
off" as a prifoner to the mercenary army. What have 
you to anfwer to thefe charges, or to fay why you 
fhould not be made an example of? 

Prifoner. I labour under every difadvantage, hav- 
ing no one to fpeak for me, and not being tried by 
a jury, but I have confidence in the humanity of 
this court Do not be fevere with me, gentle- 
men, nor fhed the blood of an innocent man. I 
beg that I may hear the evidences againft me examined 
before my face. 

Mr. Mulligen. You do not deferve fuch a favor, 
we are well fatisfied of your guilt, and that you ought 
long ago to have fufFered your deferts. 

Mr. Abeel. I think it will not take much time to 
re-examine the witneffes, not that I have any doubt of 
his guilt, but to give him no caufe of complaint at our 
proceedings. 

The committee agreed to it, and James Myer, 
Thomas Lefferts, and Peter Goff" were fworn. They 
depofed what has been before related, that the prifoner 
often attended the meeting of the confpirators, at the 

Serjeant's 



( 25 ) 

Serjeant's Arms, and that he ufed frequently to boaft 
of his amours with Mrs. Gibbons ; that he propofed 
with this woman's affiftance to feize General Wafhing- 
ton's perfon, and carry him off; that he frequently 
brought papers and letters of the General's to the fo- 
ciety, which were copied and fent away. 

Prifoner. Remember, Mr. Goff, you are upon oath, 
and that my life depends on it. As to my connection 
with Mrs. Gibbons I do not deny it, but never was 
concerned in any confpiracy. You rauft know, Mr. 
Goff, that I only faid at the fociety, that fuch a thing 
as feizing General Wafhington might be done, but I 
never agreed to or thought of doing it, nor did any 
perfon prefent propofe or advife it. 

Goff. Yes ; you often propofed it, and offered 
your fervice, and faid Mrs. Gibbons would affift ; and 
they applauded it, and drank your health. 

Mr. Byvank. Have you nothing farther to fay in 
your defence ? 

Prijoner. I have been treated cruelly, tried without 
judge or jury ; it's nothing but a fcheme to punifh 
the innocent, and get clear of honeft people. 

Court. It is our opinion that you are guilty, and 
you are to be re-manded to the goal from whence you 
came, and we recommend to you to prepare for that 
death you deferve, and to which you are condemned 
by the authority of your country. 

The prifoner was then very abufive, calling the 
court tyrants and murderers, but the guard hurried 
him away. 

July 



( 26 ) 

July 6. The congrefs received an account from 
Albany, that a body of Tories were detected in a de- 
fign of firing the town, and blowing up the magazines, 
and that fome of the principal perfons in the country 
were concerned in it. It appears that they have a 
correfpondence through the whole province and neigh- 
bouring colonies, and propofed to rife and make them- 
felves mafters of the fortrefTes, and difarm their ene- 
mies. Many of them were feized in Albany, but they 
would make no confeflion, and were thrown into goal. 
Scouts and parties were fent out in every county to 
watch and fecure the infurgents, about ninety have 
been taken in Albany and its neighborhood. It ap- 
peared that a body of fifty Tories rofe at Pough- 
keepfey, and attempted to difarm our friends, but 
after an obftinate engagement, in which five of them 
were killed, the reft were taken prifoners, and fent to 
Ridgefield. The congrefs taking thefe things into 
mature deliberation, refolved that fome examples 
mould be made, and accordingly ordered that James 
Clayford under condemnation, mould be fpeedily 
executed. 

July 7. The committee met, and ordered David 
Matthews, late Mayor of the city to be brought before 
them. 

Mr. Mathews being brought in, caft a look of con- 
tempt on the court, and affected to treat it with deri- 
fion. 

Prefident. We fit here by the authority of the peo- 
ple to enquire into a moft horrid confpiracy, with 

powers 



( 2 7 ) 

powers to acquit or punifh, as evidence fhall appear. 
You are charged, Sir, with being a principal adviferand 
abettor of fchemes againft your country ; we have 
evidence of your having attended an unlawful meet- 
ing, aflbciated for the purpofe of overturning the pre- 
fent constitution, and introducing the old tyranny. It 
appears that you have kept up a correfpondence with 
men adjudged enemies to this country, and have diftri- 
buted money in order to procure intelligence for 
them. If you have anything to fay, we are ready to 
hear it. 

Prifoner. This is a new mode of trial to hurry a 
man to prifon without letting him know his crime, to 
feize his papers and put armed men into his houfe, 
and then examine him in a private manner, without 
a jury of his peers, or giving him any information of 
his accufers, or allowing him to prepare for his de- 
fence. I fcorn your mercy, and am ready to fufFer 
for my King and country. — If I am to undergo the 
formality of a trial, let it be in the accuftomed manner, 
by a jury. 

Mr. Mac Dougal. Sir, we are ready to do you all 
the juftice you can afk ; but we expect not to be bullied 
and cavaliered in this manner. We have told you 
the authority by which we act, and if you chufe to ex- 
amine any witnefTes, or make a defence we are ready 
to hear it. 

Prifoner. I am fenfible all defence will be vain with 
men thirfting after blood. How many fathers have 
you already torn from their families and thrown into 

prifon, 



( 28 ) 

prifon, only for difference of fentiment ? If my prin- 
ciples are my crime, I never made a fecret of being a 
friend to the King and conftitution. You know 
yourfelves that the confpiracy you talk of is a mere 
pretence to punifh. The people you have thrown into 
prifon were guilty of no other mifdeeds than meeting 
in a focial manner, and exprefling their wifhes for the 
reftoration of the old conftitution ; they could not 
hurt you, when you are furrounded with fo formidable 
an army in your fervice : they never were mad enough 
to attempt fo wild a project. All they have done is 
to declare their opinions freely, during the opennefs 
of fociability and wine. I am fenfible of no other 
proceedings of the fociety, and am privy to no fcheme 
of fo mad and improbable a nature. You muft, 
therefore ufe your pleafure, for I cannot in my con- 
fcience admit of any authority in this body, to try and 
confine, or punifh any fubject of England. 

Court. Call in the evidences ; if Mr. Matthews 
does chufe to afk them any queftions, the court will 
hear them again and give him a full opportunity. 
James Myers, Stephen Prince, Thomas Lefferts, and 
Peter Goff, were fworn — They depofed that they had 
often ken the prifoner very active at the meeting of 
the confpirators ; that the papers given to the fociety 
by Clayford, were put into his hands to be communi- 
cated to the enemy. That he often diftributed money 
among the members, and encouraged them in their 
oppofition to the congrefs: that they heard him on 
the 20th of May fay, that the day was not far diftant 

when 



( 2 9 ) 

when the bodies of the congrefs would be food for 
crows, that he often called the congrefs tyrants, and 
exhorted the members to union, patience, and fidelity. 

Prifoner. I would not be underftood to acknow- 
lege the authority of this committee, but I muft not 
even here, for I would no where elfe, fuffer an act of 
charity to be perverted. I attended thefe meetings, I 
do not deny, out of affection to the conftitution, but 
never had any notion fo abfurd as a confpiracy, to be 
managed and conducted at a tavern, in the hearing of 
waiters and promifcuous company : the money I diftri- 
buted was only out of benevolence, and in pity for 
the diftrefs of many of the members, who are honeft 
men ruined by the times. I hope the congrefs will 
not call this treafon. I hope they will not call it 
treafon for us to meet and confult together for the 
fupport of our families, this is all the treafon we have 
meant, to affift each other, to contribute and comfort 

thofe friends to government who were in want . 

(Here the court interrupted him. 

Court. If you have nothing more worthy of our 
attention to offer but fuch abufe and bare-faced falla- 
cies, we muft order you back to the place from whence 
you came. We are convinced of your guilt, and re- 
commend you to make a confeffion and repent of 
your crimes. Your confeffion may entitle you not 
only to mercy, but if you difcover fincerity in your 
reformation, a perfon of your ftation and influence, 
may expect every favour from your country. 

Prifoner. I can receive no favour on any fuch 

difhonourable 



( 3o ) 

difhonourable conditions. I avow my principles, and 
mall never fwerve from them : but I would entreat 
you to have fome pity (not on me) but on the num- 
berlefs helplefs families that you expofe to ruin, by 
carrying away their innocent fathers, hufbands, and 
brothers. I only afk you for myfelf to give me an 
interview with General Wafhington, from him I may 
expect the treatment of a gentleman. 

Court. You have been ufed with juftice and civility. 
If you have nothing further to fay, let the guards 
convey him into fate cuflody, and give him every 
thing convenient. 

July 8th. The provincial congrefs having received 
the report of the committee, came to a refolution that 
David Matthews, late mayor of the city, having been 
fully convicted, and proved guilty of treafonable 
practices, tending to the fubverfion of our prefent 
happy government, deferves no longer to live, and is 
therefore fentenced to fuffer death as a common male- 
factor, on the 25th day of Auguft next. 

Auguft 1. The congrefs in full meeting refolved to 
poftpone the execution of the fentence paffed on David 
Matthews, Efq.,y?«(? die, and ordered him to be carried 
into Connecticut, there to be kept imprifoned 'till 
further orders. 

The trial of the other prifoners was alfo deferred, 
and ftrict commands given to detect, and purfue fuch 
as were ftill concealed, that they might be preferved 
in fafe cuftody till the times would render it conve- 
nient to bring them to trial. 

FINIS. 



NOTES. 




NOTES. 



Page 5. Loufy, dirty, vermin of New England. 



T 



^HK antipathy prevailing between the Southern and Eaftern 
troops, had been the caufe of a court-martial, of which 
I was a member, upon the condudl of Lieutenant Stewart 
of Smallwood's regiment, better known by his fubfequent title of Major 
Jack Stewart. He had been arretted by General Silliman, on account of 
fome alleged difrefpeel or difobedience to that officer. As the majority of 
the court were Southern men, it was not at all wonderful that Stewart was 
foon acquitted with honor. In fo contemptible a light were the New- 
England men regarded, that it was fcarcely held poffible to conceive a 
cafe, which could be conftrued into a reprehenfible difrefpedt. of them. 
Thinking fo highly as I now do of the gentlemen o^ this country, the 
recolleftion is painful, but the fact mult not be difTembled. Even the 
celebrated General Putnam, riding with a hanger belted acrofs his brawney 
moulders, over a waiftcoat without fleeves (his summer coftume), was 
deemed much fitter to head a band of ficklemen or ditchers, than mufket- 
eers. He might be brave, and had certainly an honeft manlinefs about 
him; but it was thought, and perhaps with reafon, that he was not what 
the time required. We had a regular army to oppofe and this could only 
be done by difcipline and regular foldicrfhip." — Graydon, 178-9, ed. 
1846. 

" However, 



( 3+ ) 



" However, as they [Provincials] (efpecially the Connecticut foldiers, 
whom fomc pronounce the dirtieft people on the Continent) are not 
particularly attentive to cleanlinefs, the owners of the houfes where they 
are quartered, if they ever get pofTeflion of them, mull be years in clear- 
ing them, unlefs they get new floors, and new plafter the walls." " The 
particular jealoufies and prejudices of the continental troops from the 
different ftates, led them frequently to throw out reflections tending to 
irritate each other and injure the common caufe ; fo that the commander- 
in-chief interpofed his influence to fupprefs it by general orders [Aug. I, 
1776]." " A brigadier writes concerning the animofity in the American 
army above noticed. ' It has already rifen to fuch a height, that the 
Pennfylvania and New-England troops would as foon fight each other as 
the enemy. Officers of all ranks are indifcriminately treated in a moft 
contemptible manner, and whole colonies traduced and vilified as cheats, 
knaves, cowards, poltroons, hypocrites, and every term of reproach, for 
no other reafon, but becaufe they are fituated eaft of New-York. Every 
honor is paid to the merit of good men from the fcuth ; the merit, if 
fuch be poffible, from the north is not acknowledged ; but if too apparent 
to be blalted with falfehood, is carefully buried in oblivion. The 
cowardice or mifbehaviour of the fouth is carefully covered over, the 
leafl: mifconduft in the gentlemen of the north is publifhed with large 
comments and aggravations.'" — Gordon, 11, 49, ed. N. Y. 1789, et feq. 



Page 6. Death of Montgomery. 

GENERAL MONTGOMERY was born in the north of Ireland 
in 1737, and was in the Englifh army with Wolfe at Quebec. 
In 1772, he quitted the army, fettled in America, and married a daughter 
of R. R. Livingfton. On the opening of hoftilities with the mother 
country, he efpoufed the cause of the colonifts, and fell at Quebec 
December 31, 1775. 

" Every mark of diftinftion was fhown to the corpfe of General Mont- 
gomery, who was interred in Quebec on the 2nd of January, 1776. In 
18 18, his body was removed, in accordance with an aft of the New- 
York Legiflature, and re-interred at St. Paul's churchyard in New York 
city." — Diary Revolution, 1, 186. 



(35 ) 



w 



" On the Death of General Montgomery. 

BY BRYAN EDWARDS. 

Montgomery falls ! let no fond breaft repine 

That Hampden's gloriou* death, brave chief, was thine, 

With his fhall Freedom confecrate thy name — 

Shall date her rifing glories from thy fame — 

Shall build her throne of empire on thy grave — 

What nobler fate can patriot virtues crave ! " 

— New Foundling Hofpitalfor Wit, ed. 1786, vol. vi, p. 7. 



Page 7. Carpenter's Hall. 
HERE the congrefs was fitting in Philadelphia. 



Page 7. Donald Campbell, 

WAS Quartermafter General to the army of the north, and with 
Montgomery at Quebec ; upon that general's death, he aflumed 
command, and ordered a retreat, leaving behind him fifteen dead bodies 
of the detachment, among whom was that of Montgomery himfelf. His 
conduct was ** anathematized in unmeafured terms," and all afcribed to 
him the failure of an expedition well planned, and which certainly, by 
one portion of the army, had been efficiently executed. — Lamb's Me- 
moirs. 



Page 20. General Wajhington. 

TO the following ftanza from " God Save the King ! " by Stanf- 
bury, and to be found in the " Loyal Verfes of Stan/bury and 
Odell, Albany, i860. "That admirable fcholar, the editor, Mr. Win- 
throp Sargent, has appended a note fo comprehenfive, that it is given 
almoft entire, herewith. 

" Time 



( 36 ) 



" Time was, in defence of his King and the Right, 
We applauded brave Washington foremoft in fight : 
On the banks of Ohio he fhouted luftily 

God fave the King ! 
Difappointed ambition his feet has milled ; 
Corrupted his heart and perverted his head : 
Loyal no longer, no more he cries faithfully 

Glory and joy crown the King! " 

" To caft a flur on the character of Wafhington would, to-day, be the 
aft, if of an American, of a very filly or a very difhoneft man. The 
latitude of party heats and perfonal rivalries permitted a lefs reftrained 
conduct during his life-time. The Tories had furely fome excufe for 
fpeaking bitterly of the only man by whom the American armies could 
have been l-d to victory and independence ; for the vanquifhed party has 
in all times poiIeHed at leaft the privilege of murmuring againft its con- 
queror. But it mult not be forgotten that long before and long after the 
war, as well as through its continuance, Wafhington was the object of 

/the envy and calumny of others than the adherents of the Englifh crown. 
The earlieft public outrage offered to his character, appears in the official 
Mhnoire, fcnt in 1756, by Louis XV. to the other fovereigns of Europe, 
in which, referring to Wafhington's Ohio expedition and the death of 
Jumonville, in 1754, he says: " II parlit que Pimpofture ne coiite rien a 
M. Wajbington ; ici il i'en fait honneur." It is amufing to find that 
Beaumarchais in 1779, replying to Gibbon's ftatement and jufiifying the 
aid given by France to America, heads his Hit of outrages exercifed by 

•'England with this charge of afTaffination ! He did not know that the 
falfehood hit the chief of the Americans, inftead of the Englifh court. 
Perhaps the original afTertion by a foe of this bold flander " may be for- 
given, though it cannot be applauded : " but its repetition was unfortu- 
nate on the lips of a friend. But the friends of America in the war were 
not all friends of Wafhington. His appearance in uniform in the con- 
grefs of 1775, and the military experience he had acquired, undoubtedly 
familiarized the minds of fome members with the idea of his nomination 
to be commander of the army : but the confent of many of the delegates 
to this appointment was only extorted by the neceffities of the cafe, and 
was a fource "of real regret in nearly one-half" of the gentlemen who 

made 



( 37 ) 



made it. A number of the members were for Mr. Hancock; more were 
for Charles Lee ; many for Wafhington ; but the greateft number were 
for Artemas Ward. There is room, however, for the inference that 
there was no defire on the part of a majority to maintain at the conti- 
nental expenfe a New-England army, with New England officers, to fight 
New England battles on New-England foil. There was a fouthern party 
againft a northern ; " and fo many of our ftauncheft men," says Adams, 
" were in the plan, that we could carry nothing without conceding to it. 
Another embarraffment, which was never publicly known, and which 
was carefully concealed by thofe who knew it, the MafTachufetts and 
other New-England delegates were divided. Mr. Hancock and Mr. 
Cufhing hung back ; Mr. Paine did not come forward, and even Mr. 
Samuel Adams was irrefolute. Mr. Hancock, himfelf, had an ambition 
to be appointed commander-in-chief. * * * * When I came to 
defcribe Wafhington for the commander, I never marked a more finking 
and fudden change of countenance. Mortification and refentment were 
expreffed as forcibly as his (Hancock's) face could exhibit them." Mr. 
C. F. Adams adds, that neither Hancock nor Ward was ever afterwards 
cordial towards Wafhington. Nor were the Virginia delegates unanimous 
in his favor: "particularly Mr. Pendleton was very clear and full 
againft it." When the queftion was debated, there was a warm oppofi- 
tion to Wafhington ; on public, however, and not on any pcrfonal grounds. 
Pendleton, Sherman, Cufhing, and feveral others joined in it, fearing 
" difcontents in the army and in New-England." This army, it mult be 
recollected, confided at that time almoft entirely of the men raifed by 
and in New England, and gathered before Bofton. * * * * * 
" Long after the peace, John Jay faid that in the congrefs of the 
Revolution there was always, from firft to laft, a molt bitter party againft 
Wafhington. What were the various motives of its members, it is im- 
poffible to fay, fince their names even cannot, with fullnefs and accuracy, 
be now afecrtained. It is but fair, however, to give the benefit of a 
doubt, and to fuppofe that it was an apprehenfion of the effect which fo 
much power and popularity might have on his ambition. The future was 
as yet unfeen ; and many men knew not what would be the confequences 
of the attainment of independence. "The fubjugation of my country," 
faid Edward Biddle, whofe declining health had compelled him to forego 

the 



( 38 ) 



the influence his talents would have given him as delegate in congrefs 
from Pennfylvania, "I deprecate as a moft grievous calamity; and yet 
ficken at the idea of thirteen, unconnected, petty democracies ; if we 
are to be independent, let us, in the name of God, at once have an em- 
pire, and place Wajbington at the head of it." But this idea was not 
pleafing to our people, whofe experience of the benefit of monarchy was 
not great, and very few of whom had ever been diftinguifhed by any 
royal favor ; or, as an Englifh verfifier fang : 

Poor loft America, high honours miffing, 

Knows nought of fmile and nod, and fweet hand-kiffing : 

Knows nought of golden promifes of kings ; 

In folitude the lovely rebel fighs ! 
But vainly drops the penitential tear — 

Deaf as the adder to the woman's cries, 
We fufFer not her wail to wound our ear : 
For food, we bid her hopelefs children prowl, 
And with the favage of the defert howl. 

But fuch " fears of the brave and follies of the wife " are incident to 
human nature; and the jealoufy of Wafliington may have in fome cafes 
been connected with honeft though blind judgments. It was a public 
bleffing, thought Adams, that the glorious defence of the Delaware forts, 
in 1777, was "not immediately due to the commander-in-chief, nor to 
fouthern troops. If it had been, idolatry and adulation would have been 
unbounded; fo exceflive as to endanger our liberties, for what I know. 
Now, we can allow a certain citizen to be wife, virtuous and good with- 
out thinking him a deity or a faviour." It was in the fame year that the 
writer took fire in congrefs at the fentiments entertained for the general 
by certain members : "lam diftreffed to find fome of our members 
difpofed to idolize an image which their own hands have molten. I 
fpeak of the fuperftitious veneration which is paid to General Wafhington. 
I honour him for his good qualities, but in this houfe, I feel myfelf his 
fuperior. In private life, I lhall always acknowledge him to be mine." 
The cabal againft Wafhington was never more violent than at this time, 
and probably debate ran high and warm language was ufed on either 
fide : and his enemies, if we may rely on the following anecdote, were 
more powerful in the council chamber than in the camp. In a Life of 

Lord 



( 39 ) 



Lord Stirling, the father-in-law of William Duer, written by Mr Duer's 
fon (and the relationfhip is of fome importance to the authenticity of the 
anecdote), occurs this fingular paflage : "It is related by Mr. Dunlap 
in his hiftory of New York, upon the authority, it is prefumed, of the 
late General Morgan Lewis, that a day had been appointed by the Cabal 
in Congrefs for one of them to move for a Committee to proceed to the 
camp at Valley Forge, to arreft General Wafhington ; and that the 
motion would have fucceeded had they not unexpectedly loft the majority 
which they pofTefTed when the meafure was determined on. At that 
time, there were but two delegates in attendance from New-York, Francis 
Lewis, the father of the late General Morgan Lewis, and William Duer, 
the fon-in-law of Lord Stirling — barely sufficient to entitle the state to a 
vote, if both were prefent. But Mr. Duer was confined to his bed by a 
fevere and dangerous illnefs. His colleague, Mr. Lewis, had fent an ex- 
prefs for Mr. Gouverneur Morris, one of the abfent members, who 
however, had not arrived on the morning of the day on which the mo- 
tion was to have been made. Finding this to be the cafe, Mr. D. inquired 
of his phyfician. Dr. John Jones, whether it was pofhble for him to be 
carried to the Court-Houfe where Congrefs fat. The dodlor told him it 
was poffible, but it would be at the rifle of his life. ' Do you mean,' 
faid Mr. D., ' that I fhould expire before reaching the place ? ' ' No,' 
replied the dodlor, ' but I would not anfwer for your leaving it alive.' 
'Very well, fir/ faid Mr. D., 'you have done your duty, and I will do 
mine. Prepare a litter for me ; if you will not, fomebody elfe will — 
but I prefer your aid.' The litter was prepared, and the fick man 
placed in it, when the arrival of Mr. Morris rendered the further ufe of 
it unnecefTary, and baffled the intrigue that had induced its preparation." 
The date of this anecdote was fuch as to render it extremely improbable 
that the American army, if it fubmitted to Washington's depofal, would 
have ftruck another blow under another leader for Congrefs. " I remem- 
ber well, fays a public writer in 1780, " that fuch was the fituation of 
the army, while they lay at Valley Forge in the winter of the year 1778, 
deftitute of cloathing, many times in want of provifions, and greatly dif- 
couraged, that a member of Congrefs, who had been on a committee to 
the camp to new model the troops, with the advice of General Wafhington, 
H declared 



( +o ) 



declared to me, that * fuch had been the ftate of things, that nothing but 
the great virtues of that man had kept the army together.' " 

" Much concerning this Cabal, and its workings in the Congrefs of 1 778, 
exifts in Gordon : whence it would feem that delegates from MafTachufetts 
and Virginia were deep in the affair. Samuel Adams, he fays, was con- 
cerned in it, and adds : " The army was fo confident of it, and fo 
enraged, that perfons were ftationed to watch him, as he approached the 
camp, on his return home. But he is commonly pofTefTed of good : ntel- 
ligence, and was careful to keep at a fafe diftance. Had he fallen into 
the hands of the officers, when in that paroxifm of refentment, they 
would probably have handled him fo as to have endangered his life, and 
tarnifhed their own honour." 

There is a curious article in the Pennfylvania Evening Poft, July 24th, 
1779, which may refer to this anti-Wafhington Party in Congrefs: "a 
junto who have endeavored to fubjedl all things to themfelves, all power, 
civil, military and marine : Who have endeavored to remove every 
perfon that would not mingle in their factious views ; and to place none 
in office but their friends, relatives and dependents ; againft whofe male- 
volence the unfullied fame of the great American patriot was but a flender 
barrier; whofe viftim was a W********* — and whofe idol 
was a L * *." The fame journal (July gth, 1779) mentions the exig- 
ence in Congrefs of a fort of Club of certain New-England, New-Jerfey, 
and Pennfylvania delegates, with two or three from the Southward ; the 
foundation of which had been laid in the firft Congrefs, when there was 
caufe to fear that New-York and one or two other middle colonies were 
averfe to extreme meafures. Among the Wafhington party in Congrefs, I 
mould put fuch names as thofe of Robert Lewis, and Gouverneur Mor- 
ris ; Jay ; Paca ; Burke ; Drayton ; Duane ; Duer ; Francis Lewis. The 
queftion is not fo clear in regard to Samuel Adams ; Mifflin ; Witherfpoon ; 
Rufh ; Jefferfon ; the Lees, &c. ; though any conc'ufion to be arrived at 
mull in fome meafure be conjectural. In 1789, Samuel Adams in a 
manner denied to a friend the truth of Dr. Gordon's Statement of his 
having been concerned in a plot to remove Wafhington. And in 1796, 
when John Adams was a fuccefsful candidate for the Presidency of the 
United States, he makes an obfervation that would imply a well-eftablifhed 

community 



( 4i ) 

community of action between Samuel Adams and Thomas McKean : 
" The feelings of friendfhip excite a curiofity to know how McKean will 
vote. By that I fhall guefs how Governor Adams would have voted ! " 
On April 4th, 1778, Patrick Henry wrote to Richard Henry Lee that he 
(Lee) was traduced in Virginia by perfons who alleged that he was en- 
gaged in a fcheme to difcard Wafhington : and in 1780, Dr. William 
Shippen, jun., wrote thus to him of General Greene: "He is a little 
fufpicious that you are not perfectly fatisfied with his conduct, becaufe you 
were faid to be inimical to our commander, and, of confequence, to him, 
who was fuppofed to be one of his flatterers — this falfe idea I have re- 
probated to General Greene, and allured him he would find you his 
friend and ufeful confidant." And it is faid, alio, that the occafion of 
Lee's lofing his popularity at home, and his feat in Congrefs in 1777, was 
chiefly becaufe he had compelled his tenants to pay their rents. His 
biographer and namefake, in feveral places, flouts the charge made by 
Judge Johnfon, in the Life of Greene, that Richard Henry Lee was 
Washington's enemy. But if Samuel Adams was, fo was, probably, Lee. 
It is at all events a gratifying thing to remark that no one, in later days, 
had the moral courage to confefs that he was concerned in the bufinefs ; 
indeed its very name of Conway's Cabal Ihows that its members were 
afraid or afhamed to avow their complicity ; for Conway was but a tool 
of the hour, whom it was eafy enough for a fellow-foldier to filence, and 
whofe name was affixed to a fcheme (that he doubtlefs approved of, but 
which was concocted by longer heads than his own) merely to avert the 
attention of the world from its real authors. In the army, indeed, the 
love and veneration for Wafhington was boundlefs, and almoff. univerfal ; 
and, here, truly, lay the (tumbling-block of his enemies. It was only in 
the immediate circle of fome of the foreign-born officers, as Conway, Lee, 
and Gates, that an oppofite opinion was heard. Lee's fentiments in re- 
gard to " Wafhington and his puppies " are fufficiently well known. 
" Entre nous, 1 ' he says to Gates in December, 1776, " a certain great 
man is damnably deficient." "As to his talents for the command of an 
army," faid Gates to Graydon, ' with a French fhrug,' " they were 
miferable indeed." The teftimony of the civilian, who was forced to 
remove from a comfortable houfe in one place to a comfortable houfe in 

another, 



(42 ) 



another, becaufe Wafhington, with valtly inferior forces could not drive 
Howe out of Philadelphia, would be amufing but for the circumftance 
that, himfelf in a pofition to obtain a comfortable dinner — " a good 
*oaft turkey, plain pudding, and minced pies," — he could fo grievoufly 
have mifconceived the condition of the Army in his vicinity. As Mr. 
William B. Reed juflly obferves : " The fufferings of the Americans 
during their winter cantonment at the Valley Forge have been often de- 
feribed. They have never been exaggerated." Yet, in the end of De- 
cember, 1777, after noticing Howe's movements, a Pennfylvania Whig 
remarks : " All this is done in the view of our Generals and our Army, 
who are carelefs of us, but carefully confulting where they (hall go to 
fpend the winter in jollity, gaming, and caroufing. O tell not this in 
.France or Spain ! Publifh it not in the ftreets of London, Liverpool or 
Briltol, left the uncircumcifed there fhould rejoice, and fhouting for joy, 
fay : " America is ours, for the rebels are difmayed and afraid to fight 
us any longer! O Americans, where is now your virtue? O Wafhing- 
ton, where is your courage?" In this note, no citation is made of 
Tory or Britifh accufations againft Wafhington. One of thefe was, 
however, againft his chaftity ; and fome of the charges went fo far 
as to identify the woman and to trace the offspring. This is only 
recurred to here, becaufe of a like infinuation being made apparently 
by Charles Lee, to General Reed, in 1778 ; but with great propriety the 
latter repelled as unworthy of credence the flanders that charged the 
commander-in-chief with "great cruelty to his flaves in Virginia, and 
immorality of life, though they acknowledge it is fo very fecret that it is 
difficult to detect it." 

In the clofe of 1779, General Sullivan warned Wafhington that the 
Cabal of 1777 againft him ftill exiflcd, and waited only for fufficient 
ltrength to attack him openly. He therefore advifes him to keep on his 
guard. " Appearances may deceive even an Angel. Could you have 
believed, four years ago, that thofe adulators, thofe perfons fo tenderly 
and fo friendly ufed, as were Gates, Mifflin, Reed and Tudor, would 
become your fecret and bitter, though unprovoked enemies. If we view 
them now, we cannot help lamenting the want of lincerity in mankind." 

But everything faid or done during the War, by Whig or Tory, falls far 
fhort of the dreadful charges brought againft Wafhington by his political 

opponents 



I. 



( +3 ) 



opponents and fellow-citizens in 1795, 1796, and 1797. Compared 
with the language of Valerius, Pittachus, A Calm objerver, Sec, former 
fcurrility alrnofl became praifc. Every variety of evil, from avarice and 
fraud to tyranny and murder, was imputed to his hands, with a power of 
conception and expreffion that leaves us no room to wonder thaL 
he fhould have difdaincd to run the gauntlet of a third presidential 
term; that "he prudently retreated," to quote the remark of his 
fucceflor. " Will not the world be led to conclude," fays one, " that 
the mafk of political hypocrify has been alike worn by a Carfar, a Crom- 
well, and a Wafhington ! " " Had the meridian blaze of the prcfident's 
popularity continued much longer," writes another, " the lamp of Ameri- 
can liberty would have been extinguished forever. Happily for humanity, 
a change has taken place before it was too late, and the confecrated 
ermine of prcfidcntial chaftity fecms too foul for time itfelf to bleach." 
In the Philadelphia Aurora, a paper edited with dctcftablc ability, will 
be found fcorcs of pieces of a like nature. What can be more lamentable 
than fuch lines as thefc, publifhcd at the very epoch ('March 4th, 1797) 
of Washington's withdrawal to private lifer '"Lord, Icttcfr. now thy 
fcrvant depart in peace, for mine eyes have feen thy falvation," ' was the 
pious ejaculation of a man who beheld a flood of happinefs rufhing in 
upon mankind. If ever there was a time that would licenfe the reiteration 
of the exclamation, that time is now arrived : for the man who is the 
fource of all the misfortu/ics of our country, is this day reduced to a 
level with his fellow-citizens, and is no longer pofTefled of a power to 
multiply evil upon the United States. If ever there was a period for 
rejoicing, this is the moment. Every heart in unifon with the freedom 
and happinefs of the people, ought to beat high with exultation that the 
name of Wafhington from this day ecafes to give a currency to political 
iniquity, and to legalize corruption — a new aera is now opening upon us, 
an acra which promifes much to the people ; for public meafurcs muft 
now fland upon their own merits, and nefarious projects can no I 
be fupportcd by a name. When a retrofpect is taken of the Wafljing- 
tonian administration for eight years, it is a fubject of the grcatefr. aftonifli- 
ment, that a Angle individual fhould have cankered the principles of re- 
publicanifm in an enlightened people, jufl emerged from the gulf of 
defpotifm, and fhould have carried his defigns againfl public liberty fo 

far, 



(4+ ) 



far, as to have put in jeopardy its very exiitence ; fuch, however, are the 
fafts, and with thefe flaring us in the face, this day ought to be a jubilee 
in the United States." In 1813, John Adams, writing to Jefferfon, re- 
fers to "the terrorifm excited by Genet, in 1793, when 10,000 people 
in the ftreets of Philadelphia, day after day, threatened to drag Wafhing- 
ton out of his houfe, and effecT: a revolution in the government, or com- 
pel it to declare war in favor of the French revolution and againfl Eng- 
land. The cooleft and the firmeil minds, even among the Quakers in 
Philadelphia, have given their opinions to me, that nothing but the yellow 
fever, which removed Dr. Hutchinfon and Jonathan Dickinfon Sergeant 
from this world, could have faved the United States from a fatal revolu- 
tion of government." But Adams's morbid jealoufy of every one whofe 
fame outfhone or even (in his own opinion) rivalled his own, cankers 
very many of his judgments on Wafhington. While Prefident himfelf, he 
complained that he was annoyed by " puppets, danced upon the wires 
of two jugglers behind the fcenes ; and thefe jugglers were Hamilton and 
Wafhington." In another and (as believed) unpublifhed manufcript, 
he fays (Aug. 23rd, 1806): "The Federalifts, as thev are called by 
themfelves and their enemies, have done themfelves and their country in- 
calculable injury by making Wafhington their political, religious, and even 
moral pope, and afcribing everything to him. Hancock, Samuel Adams, 

, and feveral others have been much more efTential characters 

to America than Wafhington. Another character, almoft forgotten, of 
more importance than any of them all, was James Otis. It is to offend 
againfl eternal juftice to give to one, as this people do, the merits of fo 
many. It is an effectual extinguifher of all patriotifm and all public virtue, 
and throws the nation entirely into the h^.nds of intrigue. You lament 
the growth of Corruption very juftly ; but there is none more poifonous 
than the eternal puffing and trumpeting of Wafhington and Franklin, and 
the inceffant abufe of the real Fathers of the country. 

Defpite all that has been faid, too, of Mr. Jefferibn's relations with 
Wafhington, it is difficult to hold that thefe really could have been of a 
perfectly fincere and friendly nature. It was believed in Washington's 
family that, fhortly before his death, he opened his mind very plainly to 
Mr. Jefferfon, in two or three letters. A gentleman, who was Washing- 
ton's 



( +5 ; 



ton's confidential clerk at the time, gives us fome idea of their nature ; for 
neither letters nor copies long continued in existence after their writer 
was dead. " The firft was," he faid, " rather a letter of inquiry ; the 
fecond one was fo fevere, and excited his feelings fo much, that the hair 
appeared to rife on his head as he recorded it, and he felt that it muft 
produce a duel — that the third was of a milder tone, but not a very 
gratifying one." 

It is not, at this day, too much to fay, that the common fuffrage of all 
that is wife and good in human nature, authorizes us to queftion that man's 
foundnefs of judgment or rectitude of purpofe who impugns the character 
of George Wajhington" 



Page 23. David Matthews. 

E was appointed Mayor of the city of New York in February, 
1776; "and by permiffion of the Provincial Congrefs was qualified 
by Governor Tryon on board the fhip Ducbejs of Gordon, at anchor in 
the harbor. In July of the fame year he was in jail at Litchfield, Con- 
necticut, charged with " treafonable practices againft the States of Ameri- 
ca ; " but, at his own requeft, was removed to Hartford, where he had 
friends, and could fee his wife. In 1782, he was Regifter of the Court 
of Admiralty. He had a houfe in New York and another in Flatbulh, 
and kept up an eftablifhment at both. His eftate was confifcated. After 
the war he was prefident of the Council and Commander-in-Chief of the 
Ifland of Cape Breton." — Sabine's Loyalijls, 11, 51-2, ed. 1764. 

" I well recollect breakfafting with my mother at the houfe of Mr. 
Matthews, the Mayor, and that his daughter, who entertained us, was fo 
much to my tafte, that for the moment I quite forgot the politics of her 
father, and might even have fwerved, perhaps, from my loyalty to an 
allegiance a thoufand times fworn elfewhere." — Graydon's Memoirs, p. 
272, ed. 1846. 

He 



(46 ) 



He appears to have been a man of fociable qualities; one of his own 
party fpeaks of him as " that merry heart, David Matthews." — V. Moore's 
Diary of the Revolution, i, 290. 

At page 237 of Moore's Songs and Ballads of the American Revolution, 
is a fong from Rivington's Gazette, which it is fuggeited, may have been 
written by Matthews. 




APPENDIX. 



APPENDIX. 



Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in New York to his 
Friend in Hartford, dated June 27, 1776. 

YOU have no doubt heard of a moft horrid confpiracy lately 
difcovered in this place. I have had no opportunity to examine 
the evidences in fupport of the fact ; but from the weight of the 
perfons who have appeared to profecute the inquiry, and the circumftan- 
ces that have been mentioned, I have no doubt of the truth of the general 
charge. The fubftance of it, I take to be this, that Governour Tryon in 
this, and other fimilar emiflaries in all the other Governments, have been 
for a long time ufing all the influence that the command of the Miniftry 
and Treafury in England could give them, to bribe and cajole our princi- 
pal people in all the Colonies to act. in concert with their plans ; that by 
degrees they have brought numbers fully to co-operate with them ; and, 
after being led on too far to recede, flick at nothing, however villanous and 
horrible, to accomplifh their defigns ; that the principal emiflaries have, by 
purfuing the fame methods that were fuccefsfully practiced upon them- 
felves, drawn in thofe beneath them, fo as to take in all degrees, from the 
prince to the fcavenger ; that a diftribution of money and arms has been 
fecretly made from the greater to the leaft branches ; that there were 
fchemes to diftinguifh who were in the plot, without fpeaking; that when 
all was ready for execution, the moft vigorous efforts were to be made in 
different parts at once to land the troops and pufh their operations ; at 
the fame time all our moft important pofts were to be fei2ed by the con- 
fpirators on fhore; among ourfelves all our important men were to be 

feized 



( 50 ) 



feized or murdered, together with all that were friendly attached to the 
caufe of American rights and liberty, and might be likely to obftruct their 
views or give them trouble. General Wafhington was among the firft 
that were to be facrificed, and the reft in fucceflion, according to their 
importance. A number of the General's Guard have already been 
taken up, were bribed to murder him, and have for fome time received 
double pay for that purpofe, one of whom was yefterday condemned to 
to be hanged. — Force's American Archives, 4th feries, vol. vi, page 
1101. 



Proceedings in New York in relation to Disaffected Persons. 

Die Sabbati, 12 ho., June 15, 1776. 

In Committee for the hearing and trying difaffected perfons and thofe 
of equivocal characters, met in the Aflembly-Chamber : Prefent, Philip 
Living/ion, Jofeph Hallctt, John Jay, Thomas Tredwell, Gouverneur 
Morris, Lewis Graham, and Leonard Ganfevoort, Efquires, members. 

The Members prefent unanimoufly chofe Philip Livingfton, Esq., 
Chairman, which he refufed to accept. 

The draft of a Summons was read, and approved of. 

Ordered. That one hundred copies be printed. 

Lift of fufpefled perfons named in the Refolutions of the Provincial 
Congrefs, of June 5, 1776: 

New York. 

Firft Lift. 

Wm. Newton, William Bayard, 

Linus King, Frederick Rhinelander, 

John Baltres Dafh, James Coggefhall, 

Henry Law, John Milliner, 

Theo. Hardenbrook, Benjamin James, 

Samuel Burling, Theopiladt Bache, 

John Woods, Peter McLean, 

Benjamin Williams, Samuel Galsworthy, 

Chriftopher Benfon, Francis De La Roach. 



( 5i ) 



Oliver De Lancey, 
C. Ward Apthorpe, 
William Smith, 
John Harris Cruger, 
James Jauncey, Jun., 
William Axtell, 
Goldbrow Banyar, 
George Brewerton, 
Charles Nicoll, 
Gerard Walton, 
Dr. Donald McLean, 



Second Lift. 

Benjamin Huggett, 
William McAdam, 
John Cruger, 
Jacob Walton, 
Robert Bayard, 
Peter Graham, 
Peter Van Schaack, 
And. Elliott, Collector, 
David Matthews, Mayor, 
J. Watts, Jr., Recorder, 
Judge Thomas Jones. 



Charles McEvers, 

On board Jhips-of-war Dutchefs of Gordon, &c. 



William Tryon, 
John Wetherhead, 
Captain Hervey, 



TheophilacT: Bache, 



Auguftus Van Cordandt, 



Ifaac Decker, 
Abraham Harris, 



Benjamin Seaman, 



R'd Hulet, Rockaway, 
Thomas Cornel, do, 



John T. Kempe, 
George Berks. 

King's County. 

Fir ft Lift. 

Benjamin James. 
Second Lift. 

John Rapalye. 

Richmond County. 

Firft Lift. 

Ephraim Taylor, 
Minne Burger. 

Second Lift. 

Chriftopher Billop. 

Queens County. 

Firft Lift. 

Stephen Hulet, 
Dr. Charles Arder., 



( 52 ) 



J. Beagle, Rockaway, 
John Kendal, at Daniel, 

Thorn's, Flufhing, 
John Moore, Sen., Newtown, 
D. Beatty, Hempftead, 



Gabriel Ludlow, 
Dr. Samuel Martin, 
Thomas Jones, 
Archibald Hamilton, 
David Colden, 
Richard Colden, 
George D. Ludlow, 
Whitehead Hicks, 
Samuel Clowes, 
George Folliot, 
Samuel Doughty, 
Daniel KifTam, 
Gilbert Van Wyck, 



Frederick Philipfe, 
Caleb Morgan, 
Nathaniel Underhill, 
Samuel Merritt, 
Peter Corne, 
Dr. Peter Huggeford, 



Solomon Fowler, 



John Bodin, 

. Chafe, Jamaica. 

Jno. Hulet, Oyfter Bay, 
Ifaac Denton, of Near Rocka- 
way. 

Second Lift. 

John Willet, 
David Brooks, 
Charles Hicks, 
John Townfend, 

John Polhemus, 
Benjamin Whitehead, 

Thomas Smith, 

John Shoals, 

Nathaniel Moore, 

Samuel Hallet, 

William Weyman, 

Captain Thomas Hicks, Rockaway, 

B. Lefter, Hempftead. 



Westchester County. 

Firft Lift. 

James Horton, Jun., 
William Sutton, 
William Barker, 
Jofhua Purdy, 
Abfalom Gidney. 

Second Lift. 

Richard Morris, Judge of Admiralty, 



lall of the City of 1 
lay of June, 1776. j 



The Court-Room in the City-Hs 

New-York, the 19th day 

Mr. Morris offered to the Committee a draft of a Warrant to be uTued 

againft dangerous perfons defcribed and named in the Rcfolutions of the 

Provincial 



( 53 ) 



Provincial Congrefs of the 5th of June inftant; which, being read and 
confidered, was agreed to, and is in the words following, viz : 

In purfuance of certain Refolutions of the Congrefs of the Colony of 
New-York oftthe 5th day of June inftant, we do authorize and require 
you forthwith to arreft and bring before us, at the City-Hall of the City 

of New-York, , whofe conduct hath been 

reprefented to the faid Congrefs as inimical to the caufe and rights of 
America, and who, if fummoned, would probably, in the opinion of the 
faid Congrefs, not appear, but fecrete himfelf ; to the end that we, being 
the Committee of the faid Congrefs, for that purpofe, by the refolutions 
aforefaid, duly appointed and authorized, may inquire and determine in 
the premifes. And bring with you then there this warrant. 

Given at New-York, the day of June, 1776. 

Form of Summons for fufpecled Perfons. 

SIR : By virtue of the authority veiled in us by certain refolutions of 
the Congrefs of the Colony of New-York of the 5 th day of June, in the 
year of our Lord feventeen hundred and feventy-fix, reciting that whereas 
there are in this Colony divers perfons who, by reafon of their holding 
offices from the King of Great Britain — from their having neglecled or 
refufed to aflbciate with their fellow-citizens for the defence of their 
common rights — from their having never manifefted, by their conducl, 
a zeal for, and attachment to the American caufe — or from their having 
maintained an equivocal neutrality, have been confidered by their country- 
men in a fufpicious light — whereby it hath become necefTary, as well 
for the fafety as for the fatisfaftion of the people, (who, in times fo 
dangerous and critical, are naturally led to confider thofe as their enemies 
who withhold from them their aid and influence,) that certain perfons in 
the faid refolutions named, (of whom you are one,) who are generally 
fuppofed to come under the above defcription, fhould be fummoned by a 
certain Committee, to fhow caufe, if any they have, why they fhould be 
confidered as friends to the American caufe, and as of the number of 
thofe who are ready to rifk their lives and fortunes in defence of the 
rights and liberties of America againft the ufurpation, unjuft claims, and 
cruel oppreffions of the Britijh Parliament ; which rights and liberties, 
and which unjuft claims and cruel oppreffions, are fpecified and ftated in 

divers 



(5+) 



divers Addrefles, Petitions, and Remonftrances of the prefent and late 
Continental Congreffes ; and directing certain proceedings in the faid 
refolutions fpeciiied to be by the faid Committee had againft fuch of the 
faid perfons as the faid Committee fhall not adjudge and determine to be 
friends to the American caufe : 

We do, therefore, in purfuance of the faid Refolutions, fummon you 

to appear before us at on the .... day of , 

at o'clock in the noon of the faid day, to fhow caufe (if 

any you have) why you fhould be confidered as a friend to the American 
caufe, and of the number of thofe who are ready to rifle their lives and 
fortunes in defence of the rights and liberties of America, againft the 
usurpation, unjuft claims, and cruel oppreffions of the Britijh Parliament; 
which rights and liberties, and which unjuft claims and cruel oppreffions, 
are, as aforefaid, fpecified and Hated in divers Addreffes, Petitions and 
Refolutions of the prefent and late Continental CongrefTes. 

Dated the .... day of , 1 776. 

To the Hon. John Harris Cruger. 

The Committee adjourned till to morrow morning, at ten o'clock, to 
meet at the fame place. 



The Court-room in the City-Hall of the City of 
New- York, the 20th day of June, 1776. 
Certain Members of the Committee being obliged to attend to other 
bufinefs impofed on them by the Houfe, the Committee did not meet, 
but feveral of the Members agreed to meet to-morrow morning, at ten 
o'clock in the forenoon, at the fame place. 



The Court-Room in the City-Hall of the City of 
New-York, the 21ft day of June, 1776. 
The Committee met purfuant to the agreement of yefterday. 
Prefent — John Jay, Efq., Chairman, Mr. Livingfton, Mr. Hobart, 
Mr. Ganfevoort, Mr. Morris, Colonel Graham. 

The Secretary reported that, purfuant to the order of this Committee 
of the 19th inltant, he had on that day duly fworn Samp/on Dyckman, 

the 



( 55 ) 



the Meflenger of this Committee, faithfully to execute the duties and 
office of Meflenger to this Committee. 

The Secretary further reported that, purfuant to another order of this 
Committee of the fame day, he, forthwith delivered the fummonfes made 
out this day, to the meflenger, to be ferved; and that he delivered the other 
fummonfes to the Meflenger yefterday morning, when the faid Meflenger 
informed him that William McAdam, to whom one of the firft mentioned 
fummonfes was directed, was abfent from home, and as the Meflenger 
was informed by Mrs. McAdam, gone to a diftant part of Netv-Jerfey, 
from whence it was uncertain when he would return; and that he de- 
livered the faid fummons to Mrs. Mc Adams. 

That the Meflenger further informed him that he had delivered the 
fummons directed to Oliver De Lancey, Efq., to his wife, Mr. D. L. 
being, as fhe informed him, gone from home ; and that he had delivered 
the fummons directed to Mr. Apthorp and Mr. Robert Bayard to them- 
felves, refpecYively. 

That he had not ferved the fummons directed to George Brezverton, 
he being (with his family) out of town. 

Ordered, That the Secretary make out a number of blank Warrants, 
in the form directed by this Committee on the 19th day of June inftant. 
Ordered, That Mr. Hubbard and Colonel Graham prepare the draft 
of a Warrant proper to be iflued againft fuch perfons of equivocal cha- 
racter as may neglect or refufe to appear on fummons ; and alfo of a 
fummons proper to be iflued to perfons fuppofed to be inimical and 
dangerous to the caufe of America. 

The Committee adjourned to ten o'clock to-morrow morning, to meet 
at the fame place. 

Examination of William Leary. 

William Leary fays that he came hither laft Monday, about ten o'clock, 
in purfuit of William Benjamin, a workman of Mr. Erjkine, who had 
run away from Bigwood Ironworks. He found the faid Benjamin at the 
houfe of one Forbes, at the fign of Robin Hood. After taking him, 
Forbes ran and got a piflol for Benjamin to defend himfelf, and examinant 
took hold of Benjamin and prevented him from ufing the faid pillol. 
Examinant carried the faid Benjamin to Paulus Hook Ferry, who was 
J there 



( 56 ) 

there refcued by Sergeant Cornet, of Captain Roofeve/t's company, and 
by the faid captain enlifted. Examinant then met James Mafon, one of 
the workmen of Mr. Erjkine, who had fome time ago been difcharged. 
James Mafon afked examinant if he did not want to fee James Ram/ay, 
Chriftopher Wiley, and George Gammell. Examinant faid yes. James 
Mafon faid examinant might fee them if he would take an oath that he 
did not come to take them up; which examinant refufed, faying he would, 
neverthelefs, be glad to fee them. Mafon afked examinant if he had run 
away; who anfwered in the affirmative. Mafon then afked what examin- 
ant would do with himfelf, and whether he would do as he and the reft 
of them had done. Examinant afked what that was. Mafon faid he 
muft go and be qualified, and then he would tell him. Examinant 
agreed to be qualified ; but afked on what foundation ? Mafon told him 
he was to fwear before a gentleman in this town to go on board of the 
man-of-war ; that he {Mafon) and his companions had fc fworn, and 
were to receive wages and provifions until they fhould be able to get 
there. Examinant afked who the gentleman was that fwore them. 
Mafon replied it was a gentleman employed by the Mayor or Governour 
of the town ; but the examinant thinks it was the Mayor who fwore 
them and found provifions for them until they had an opportunity to get 
on board the man-of-war. Mafon then conducted examinant to the 
houfe where George Gammel, James Ramfay, and Cbriflopher Wyley 
lived. This houfe is a Scotchman's, juft below the Jews' Synagogue, a 
private houfe ; does not know the man's name. When examinant came 
in, George Gammel afked him if he was in purfuit of them ; who anfwered 
in the negative. George Gamme/ then faid, Did you come away in the 
fame manner as we did ? Examinant faid yes. Gammel then faid, we 
will have a drink together. Gammel faid he would divulge his mind to 
examinant if examinant would be true to him. Examinant anfwered, " I 
will be as true to you as you are to me." Gammel then took examinant 
afide, and afked when he would go on board of the man-of-war. Ex- 
aminant faid he did not know, but would take the firft good opportunity. 
Afked examinant if he wanted a pafs. Examinant faid he had a pafs 
fufficient for him to go as far as he wanted. Gammel brought to examin- 
ant a perfon to give him a pafs, whom examinant does not know, but 
believes he mould know him again if he were to fee him. Examinant 

faid 



( 57 ) 



faid he wanted to fee the New England encampment, to fee one Amos 
Hutchins, a Captain; intending to decoy them thither, and have them 
apprehended. When examinant had got about half way up the Broad- 
way, they difcovered his piftols, and would have fled, thinking, as examin- 
ant fuppofes, that he meant to take them up. James Ram/ay and Cbrijlo- 
pher Wyley ran off. Examinant purfued and caught James Ram/ay. 
They then gathered together, and afked examinant why he carried 
piftols ; who replied that they were for his defenfe, until with them he 
could get on board of the man-of-war. They being then fufpicious, 
turned back ; but examinant firft afked George Gammel when he intended 
to go on board of the man-of-war, and how. Gammel anfwered 'I intend 
to leave town this night, and go to Long IJland, and get from thence to 
the man-of-war ; ' but whether to get a perfon to put him on board, or 
to fteal a boat or canoe, this examinant is not certain. Gammel then 
faid the gentleman who was employed by the Mayor had defired them 
not to be feen more than two together. The gentleman had further told 
him the Riflemen were fo thick on Long-IJland as to prevent him from 
getting on board until a more convenient opportunity ; and perhaps they 
might not get on board until General Howe arrived with his fleet. They 
expefled a large body of men to join them from Gojben, and they were 
to get on board with the utmoft defpatch after General Howe's arrival. 

William Leary. 
Examined by, and fworn the 20th of June, 1776, before us. 

John Jay, 

GOUVERNEUR MoRRIS. 

Examination of James Mason. 

James Ma/on fays : About two weeks and a half ago a man took his 
qualification that he would not divulge anything about the bufinefs he was 
then upon. When he went up to Gojhen from Kingjwood, about five 
weeks ago, to look for a place as a miller, he faw a man who had been 
four days en board the man-of-war, by name William Forbes, a tanner 
and currier by trade ; that as you go up the Broadway you come to the 
ftreet in which is the Ofwego market, oppoflte to the fouth fide of which, 
four doors from the corner of the Broadway, lives one Lourie, a tavern- 
keeper, a fat man, who wears a blue coat, and that he hath frequently 

met 



( 58 ) 



met the laid William Forbes in that houfe ; that he told examinant he 
never lodged twice in the fame houfe, being afraid ; examinant afked 
where he did lodge, Forbes would not tell him ; that Forbes hath a houfe 
of his own, five miles from Gojken, at which he faw him when examinant 
was looking for a place. Forbes told examinant he had been four days 
on board the man-of-war laft Jpril, when the (hip Savage fired on Staten- 
IJland; that Governour Try on would give five guineas bounty and two 
hundred acres of land for each man, one hundred for his wife, and fifty for 
each child, upon condition they would cnlift. in his Majefty's fervice. 
Examinant bore Forbes's expenfes to town, Forbes undertaking to repay 
him in hard cafh when they got on board ; that Forbes was to have a 
bounty from the Governour for every man he could get, and had been 
fent home for that purpofe; that the Governour had defircd him to go up 
and get as many men as he could ; that the recruits were to afiift the 
King's troops when they came; that recruits were not to go on board, 
becaufe they could do more good on fhore, and befides they were on 
fhort allowance in the fhip and crowded, as Forbes told examinant. 
Forbes and examinant came to New-Tork by way of Elizabethtown, and 
in their way, at Warwick, Forbes enticed William Benjamin to go along 
with him, and at Elixabethtown Forbes inquired at Deacon Ogden's, 
where he ufed to work, and told examinant, after the inquiry, that they 
could not get on board from Bergen-Point or Staten-LJland, as there were 
Riflemen ftationed there, but muft go to Nczv-Tork, for that there was a 
man there, one McLean, a fhoemaker, near the Royal Exchange, who was 
employed by the Governour to carry recruits on board ; that Forbes and 
examinant came to New-Tork in an Elixabethtown boat, and went firft 
to Thomas Majon's at the corner of Beaver ftreet and Broadway, at the 
fign of the Highlander, where they left their baggage, and William Ben- 
jamin to take care of it, and went thence to McLean's, to inquire for a 
paffagc ; that McLean and Forbes whifpered together, and then Forbes 
told examinant that McLean faid there was no opportunity of getting on 
board in two or three nights ; that McLean recommended them to one 
James lloulding, a tavern-keeper in Tryon Row oppofite the gate of the 
upper barracks, for lodging ; that they went up to Houlding's, leaving 
Benjamin Hill at Majon's, and, after dufk, examinant went for Benjamin, 
and he and Benjamin carried the baggage up, and all three lodged at 

Houlding's 



( 59 ) 



Moulding s that night, telling Moulding Mr. McLean had fent and recom- 
mended them there as a fafe houfe ; next morning Forbes went to fee for 
an opportunity to get on board, and did the like for two or three days; 
Forbes and Benjamin ftaid at Mouldings one week without being able to 
get on board of the man-of-war ; William Benjamin agreed to go on 
board the man-of-war alfo, and accept the Governour's bounty ; after the 
firft week, as they could not get on board, Moulding obferved that they 
ought to be fpread about, for that keeping them together would occafion 
fufpicion in his houfe ; that one Corbie, who lives near General Wash- 
ington's, ufed to refort to the houfe of Moulding, where he was introduced 
to Forbes, and this examinant alfo got acquainted with Corbie; that many 
Tories reforted to Houldings, amongft whom were two brothers, of the 
name of Fortune, the one a tanner, living in the Swamp, and the other 
a faddler, whom he hath feen working at Cook's, in the Broadzvay; alfo, 
one Fleeter a filverfmith, who was ridden about town for a Tory, and 
another of the fame name, whom he takes to be his brother; alfo, a man 
without an arm, whom he believes to be an old penfioner, and Gilbert 
Fofier, a gunfmith, living oppofite to Mr. Mull's tavern, a fhort, thick 
man who wears a white coat ; that thefe perfons, as he believes, knew of 
the examinant's intention, but did not care to truft him, as he had not 
taken his qualification ; that examinant was qualified before the faid Gil- 
bert Forbes, and the faid William Forbes, at the houfe of the faid Corbie • 
that William Forbes gave him the book, and that they made him fwear 
not to divulge anything of what the examinant now tells; that when 
examinant was at Mouldings, Gilbert Forbes, William Forbes, and Corbie, 
advifed examinant to go to Corbie's houfe and work a little in the garden 
to prevent fufpicion. Gilbert Forbes promifed examinant ten (hillings 
per week fubfiftence money, of which this examinant hath, at different 
times, received twenty fix millings and eight pence ; that the examinant 
complained ten (hillings was too little; Forbes said he could not help it 
but he would write to the Governour to try to get it increafed to twelve • 
that he afterwards told examinant he could not get an anfwer, becaufe a 
boat coming from the Governour was near being taken, and had thrown 
the letters overboard ; that William Benjamin and William Forbes have 
also received money from the faid Gilbert ; that, according to the advice 
of the Forbfes and Corbie, went to Corbie's, and continued there until 

laft 



( 6o ) 



laft Saturday; that while examinant lived at Houldings, Corbie came 
there between nine and ten o'clock at night, and brought with him a 
mulatto-colored negro, drefled in blue clothes, about five feet eight inches 
high, well-set, but knows not his name or to whom he belongs, but is 
informed that he hath fince been taken up and put in jail ; when Corbie 
and the negro came in there was a great deal of whifpering round between 
Corbie William Forbes, the negro, and another man who had been wait- 
ing to get on board and did go on board that evening; that afterwards 
the examinant and William Forbes had fome converfation about the negro ; 
Forbes told him the negro was going on board the man-of-war with that 
man, and two or three more, but the craft was fo fmall it would not car- 
ry them all for fear of difcovery, wherefore he, Benjamin, and William 
Forbes, were obliged to flay behind ; that when this examinant was quali- 
fied there was prefent one Clarke, who had been a schoolmafter about 
eight or nine miles from Go/ben, and with whom the faid William Forbes 
was acquainted ; that the faid Clarke faid in the examinant's hearing that 
he had enlifted about fixty men, of whom he had a lift, and who were 
ready to aflift when the troops came ; that examinant believes the lift was 
given to Gilbert Forbes to be fent to the Governour, for that the name 
of the examinant, William Forbes and William Benjamin, were taken 
down by the faid Gilbert, as this examinant fuppofes, to be fent to the 
Governour ;^"that one Hiekey, of the General's Guards, he believes to be 
concerned, who is now in confinement v' that one Greene, of the Gen- 
eral's Guards, a drummer, is concerned, for that examinant faw Gilbert 
Forbes in converfation with faid Greene, but could not hear them, and 
fince that time Greene hath adminiftered an oath to this Hiekey, and 
fome other foldiers of the General's Guards, and, as examinant is inform- 
ed, is to have one dollar per man from Forbes, for every man he fhall 
inlift; 'one Barnes, of the General's Guards, one Jobnfon, a fifer of the 
Guards, who, as well as Greene and Hiekey, have been in the regular 
fervice, are qualified for the fame purpofe ; that William Benjamin told 
examinant he heard Gilbert Forbes fay that he would go to the Mayor 
and get one hundred pounds which he muft have ; that examinant and 
William Forbes, in their way from William Forbes 1 s houfe, came to a fine 
houfe ; that examinant aflted what fine houfe that was ; that Forbes said 
it belonged to the brother of the Mayor of New- York; that he knew 

him 



( 6i ) 



him very well, and had been there feveral times and mull go there now 
to tell him what he was going about, to know if he had any word to fend 
to his brother, and that the examinant mull: walk on flowly and he would 
overtake him ; that, at the door of the houfe examinant faw an old, 
fhort, thick, fat man ; that Forbes flayed there about a quarter of an 
hour, and then followed and overtook the examinant, who afked Forbes 
if the Mayor's brother had given him any letter ; Forbes faid no, he had 
only defired him to tell his brother that he was well ; that the Mayor's 
brother afked who the examinant was, and Forbes told him it was a 
young man going upon the fame errand that he was. Examinant believes 
Gilbert Forbes is at the head here, and the Mayor and the Governour. 

James Mason. 
Examined the 20th June, 1776, by us: 

John Jay, 
Governeur Morris. 

Lift of per Jons charged as enemies to America. 

William Forbes, by trade a tanner and currier, formerly an inhabitant 
of Orange County. 

Lourie, a tavern-keeper, (no fign,) four doors from the corner of 
Broadway, oppofite the fouth fide of Ofzvego market, in one of the low 
houfes ; a fat man, with a blue coat. 

William Benjamin, an apprentice of Mr. Erjkine, now a foldier in 
Captain Roofeveli's Company. Inquire of William Leary. 

McLean, a fhoemaker, near the Royal Exchange. 

Thomas Ma/on, a tavern-keeper, at the fign of the Highlander, at the 
corner of Beaver flreet and Broadway. 

James Houlding, a tavern-keeper, in Tryon Row, oppofite the gate of 
the upper barracks, (no fign,) his name written over the door ; a beer 
houfe. 

Corbie, a tavern-keeper, to the foutheaft of General Wajhington's houfe, 
to the weftward of Bayard's woods, and north of Lifpenard's meadow. 

Fortune, a tanner, living in the Swamp. 

One Fortune. 

Fortune, a faddler, who works at Cook's, in Broadway. 

Fueter, a filverfmith, who was ridden upon a rail lately. 

Fueter, 



( 62 ) 



Fueter, a brother of the other. 

Gilbert Forbes, a gunfmith, oppofite to Hull's tavern ; a fhort thick 
man, with a white coat. 

Clarke, formerly a fchoolmafter about nine miles from Gojben. 

James Ram/ay, Chriftopher Wyley, George Gammell, three of Mr. 
Erjkine's workmen. Inquire of William Leary. 

John Taylor, formerly a conftable in this town. 

Forbes, a tavern-keeper, at the fign of Robin Hood. 

McGinnes, a penfioner, with one arm. 

Information re/peeling Dr. Arden and others at Jamaica. 

Doctor Charles Arden, was the perfon who inftigated the Tories to 
fign againft having a Congrefs or a Committee. 

Benjamin Smith, (fon of Samuel Smith, Esq.) 

Robert Hinchman. 

Thomas Smith, (fon of Thomas Smith,) whom he threatened to hang 
if he would not fign a paper. 

Ifaac Leffertfe. Bought the Widow Belt's farm. He wrote the affi- 
davit of Roeloff Duryee about Parfon Kettletas, and carried Juftice 
French to Duryee' s for that purpofe. 

Captain Benjamin Whitehead, late Supervifor. Repeatedly refufed to 
communicate to the town of Jamaica certain letters from the General 
Committee of Nezv-Tork, requeuing the town to be called together to 
ele£t members of a Committee or Congrefs. Witnefs : Waters Smith, 
or either of the other perfons above named or Captain Jacob Wright 

Alexander Wallace. Refides at Jamaica, in Wat Smith's houfe. 

Bethune. He maintains an intimacy with Benjamin Whitehead 

and with Dr. Arden. 

Martin, from Antigua. Dwells in Oba-Mihs's houfe, oppofite 

the Mecting-Houfe, at a high rent. He affociates chiefly with James 
Depey/ler. 

Charles McEvers. Refides in John Troop's houfe. 

Thomas Cologan and F lemming Cologan frequently go to Creed's Hill 
to look out ; the two Dunbar's, John William Living/Ion, Jun., and one 
of the Cologan's, were there lately, looking out for a fleet. That the 
Dunbar's fhut themfelves up, and refufed to train or pay their fines. 

John 



( 63 ) 



John and William Dunbar. 

George Folliot. Lives with Jacques John/on, at Frejb meadows, about 
one-and-a-half mile from Jamaica. 

Tbeopbilact Bache, of Flatbujh, Comes to Jamaica to Alexander 
Wallace's. 

James Depeyjler. Lives next to William Belt's. His fon, Joj'eph 
Depeyjler, has been purfued feveral times, but cannot be taken. He is 
faid to be a dangerous Tory. 



June 21, 1776. 
To His Excellency George Washington, Ej'q., General ; 

Sir : Whereas David Matthews, Efquire, (lands charged with danger- 
ous defigns and treafonable confpiracies againfl: the rights and liberties of 
the United Colonies of America: We do, in purfuance of a certain 
refolve of the Congrefs of the Colony of the 20th of June inftant, 
authorize and requefl you to caufe the faid David Matthews to be, with 
all his papers, forthwith apprehended and fecured, and that return be 
made to us of the manner in which the warrant fhall be executed, in 
order that the fame may be made known to the faid Congrefs. 

Given under our hands, this 21ft day of June, 1776. 

Philip Livingston, 
John Jay, 

GoUVERNEUR MORRIS. 

General Greene is defired to have the within warrant executed with 
precifion, and exadly by one o'clock the enfuing morning, by a careful 
officer. 

George Washington. 

Friday afternoon, June 21, 1776. 



Long-Ifland, June 22, 1776. 
In obedience to the within order and warrant, I fent a detachment of 
my brigade, under the command of Colonel Vernon, to the houfe of the 
K within 



( 6+ ) 

within-named David Matthews, Efq., at Flatbujb, who furrounded his 

houfe and feized his perfon precifely at the hour of one this morning. 

After having made him a prifoner, diligent fearch was made after his 

papers, but none could be found, notwithftanding great care was taken 

that none of the family fhould have the leaft opportunity to remove or 

deftroy them. 

Nathaniel Green. 

Flatlands, Friday, June 21, 1776. 

Mrs. Brewerton prefents her compliments to Captain Thomas Randall, 
and begs to acquaint him that when fhe returned from the city to her 
family at Flatlands, fhe found a fummons left at the houfe by a perfon 
from the Congrefs for Mr. Brewerton to attend on them at 10 o'clock 
this day. She begs it as a favour of Captain Randall to acquaint the 
gentlemen of the Congrefs that it has not been in her power to make Mr. 
Brewerton acquainted with it, as he went out yefterday morning fifhing 
and does not expect to return till this evening or to morrow. On his 
return fhe will acquaint him with the fummons, and makes no doubt but 
he will immediately attend the Congrefs. 

To Captain Thomas Randall. 



Scott's Tavern, in Wall ftreet, June 22, 1776. 

The committee met purfuant to adjournment. Prefent : Mr. Hobart, 
Mr. Tre dwell, Colonel Graham, Mr. Randall, Mr. Ganfevoort. 

The Committee unanimoufly chofe Mr. Hobart Chairman pro tempore. 

Whitehead Hicks, Efq., attending on a fummons returnable this day, 
was called in. The Chairman read to him part of the Refolutions of 
the Congrefs of this Colony relative to perfons of equivocal character, 
and defired him to fhow caufe to this Committee why he fhould be con- 
fidered as a friend to the caufe and rights of America. 

Mr. Hicks fays the caufe he can fhow is only negative ; that he defies 
envy itfelf to fhow anything in his conduct that is againft his country ; 
that he has for many years held honourable and lucrative Crown offices, 
unfolicited, and repeatedly fworn allegiance to the Crown ; that in this 
fituation, were his nerves ftronger, he would not willingly perfonally take 

up 



( 65 ) 



up arms on the part of the country ; that his father and brothers are 
ftrongly attached to, and engaged in, the American caufe ; that he there- 
fore, as well as from principle, will never be induced to take up arms 
againft his country ; that fome of his near relations are in the Continental 
Army ; that he never advifed or diffuaded any perfon, not even his fer- 
vants or domefticks, in thefe meafurcs ; that his fervant has been engaged 
in this country's fervice from the firft of thefe troubles, and is now 
actually ferving in the troops raifed in this Colony, without the leaft con- 
tradiction or diffuafion on his part. 

Mr. Hicks was then afked by the Chairman whether, in his opinion, 
the Britijb Parliament has a right to tax America ? He replied that he 
would be very unwilling to be taxed by the Britijb Parliament. 

The Chairman then afked him whether he was willing to fubfcribe the 
AfTbciation made by the Provincial Congrefs on the 20th inftant ; to 
which he replied that he could not fign it becaufe he could not take up 
arms, and that, as an honeft man, he could not fign anything which he did 
not mean to perform. 

Mr. Hicks was then afked by the Chairman whether he thought the 
prefent meafures of the Colonies in defending by arms juftifiable. To 
this he replied that arms were the laft refort, and juftifiable where necef- 
fary as the laft refort; but that he has not fully examined or confidered 
whether every other neceffary expedient had been previoufly ufed. 

Mr. Hicks withdrew. 

Refolved, unanimoujly, That Whitehead Hicks, Efq., is not fuch a 
friend to the caufe and rights of America as is mentioned in the Refolu- 
tions of the Congrefs of the 5 th day of June inftant. 

Refolved unanimoujly, That it is not neceffary to remove Mr. Hicks 
from his prefent place of refidence. 

Refolved unanimoujly, That Mr. Hick's Parole be taken that he will 
not oppofe or contravene the meafures of the Continental Congrefs or 
the Congrefs of this Colony, and that his Parole is fiifHcient fecurity. 

Mr. Hicks was called in and informed of the determinations of the 
Committee, and a copy of the Parole delivered to him. 

Mr. Hicks read the copy of the Parole, and declared that he would 
wifh to confider whether this Parole might in any manner interfere with 
his oath and office of a Judge, but had not any other objeflion to it. 

The 



( 66 ) 



The Committee informed Mr. Hicks that he might take time to con- 
fider of it. 

Mr. Hicks requefted, and the Committee confented, that Mr. Hicks 
confider thereof until Monday next, then to return the faid Parole figned 
or to call on this Committee. 

An order of the Congrefs of this Colony of the 21ft inftant, relative 
to Samuel Wbitten, referring his cafe to this Committee, was read, and 
is in the words following, to wit : 

A letter from Robert H Harrifon, General Wajhington's Secretary, 
enclofing a letter from General Hand, relative to a fufpefted dangerous 
man named Samuel Wbitten, was received and read. 

Ordered, That the laid Letter be referred to the Secret Committee. 

The Letter from Colonel Hand, exhibiting the charges againft the faid 
Samuel Wbitten, was alfo read, and taken into confideration. 

The faid Samuel Wbitten was called in. He fays he croffed the ferry 
in a boat with fome officers on Tburfday laft ; that he was fome thing in 
liquor, and fpoke fome thing too free. He then related the converfation 
with the officers during his pafTage acrofs the ferry. He further fays that 
he has been drafted for in Captain Buchanan's Company, in which com- 
pany he is a Sergeant ; that he voluntarily offered to take a chance of 
being drafted ; that had he not been in the ftate he was he would not 
have faid what he did at that time. Wbitten further fays that he thinks 
the Americans are right in their refiftance by arms, and that he is willing 
to take up arms and defend the country ; that he only mentioned it as 
his opinion that the troops would land at Long IJland ; that he never 
had any information of that kind. 

The faid Samuel Wbitten fubfcribed the Affociation made by the 
Congrefs of this Colony on the 26th inftant. 

Thereupon, Rejolved, That Samuel Wbitten be difcharged, and per- 
mitted to go at large. 

Mr Samuel Martin, attending purfuant to a fummons from this Com- 
mittee returnable this day, was called in. He fays he attends in purfu- 
ance of a fummons received laft week. 

The Chairman read to him the Refolutions of the Congrefs of this 
Colony of 20th inftant, relative to perfons of equivocal character, and 

defired 



( 67 ) 



dehred him to fhow caufe, if any he had, why he mould be confidered 
as a friend to the American caufe. 

Mr. Martin fays he has never done anything againft the country, and 
is not an enemy to the country; that he always meant to remain as 
peaceable and ina&ive as he could. 

The Chairman aflced Mr. Martin if he chofe to be confidered as a 
friend to the American caufe, and as one of thofe who are willing to rifle 
their lives and fortunes in defence of America. Mr. Martin declared 
he fhould be forry to be confidered as an enemy to the country, and 
never meant to lift an arm againft America. 

The Chairman informed him that he now had an opportunity to dif- 
tinguifh himfelf as the friend of America. 

He replied that he was ready to give any affurances that he would not 
take any a&ive part againft America; that he never meant to take up 
arms. 

Mr. Martin being afked whether, in his opinion, the Britifh Parlia- 
ment has a right to tax America, he replied that, in his opinion, the Par- 
liament has not a right to lay internal taxes on the Colonies. Being 
afked whether he did not think a tax on perfonal eftates was equally 
unconftitutional, he replied that he did not, if it was for the regulation of 
trade ; but that he is not a politician, and has confined his ftudies to his 
own profeflion. 

Mr. Martin when afked whether he would give fecurity that he would 
not oppofe or contravene the meafures of the Continental Congrefs or of 
the Congrefs of this Colony. He replied that he would, but that he did 
not know of any perfon in this city to apply to to be his fecurity, that he 
would apply to his father, who refides on Long-IJland, who would be his 
fecurity. 

Mr. Martin withdrew. 

Refohed, unanimoujly, that Samuel Martin is not a friend to the Ameri- 
can caufe. 

The Chairman then put the queftion, whether it is necefTary to remove 
Samuel Martin from his prefent place of refidence ? 

The Committee unanimoufly agreed that they have not fufficient infor- 
mation to determine that queftion at prefent, and therefore agreed to 
defer the further confideration thereof till to-morrow morning. 

Mr. 



( 68 ) 



Mr. Martin was called in and informed thereof and defired to attend 
at the City Hall to-morrow morning, at ten o'clock. 

Robert Fenton, of the City of New-York, Brafs-founder, being fworn, 
faith : That five or fix weeks ago, at his own houfe, one Jacob Lofee, 
mailer of a periagua of John Rapalye, afked him if there was any fuch 
thing as getting rifles in town. Deponent anfwered that he did not be- 
lieve there was one. Lofee faid he believed there were many, for that 
he had been applied to to carry a confiderable number of them on board 
the Jfia. Deponent afked him by whom. He replied that he would 
not tell, but that he had refufed to take them. That deponent has heard 
fince that the faid rifles were afterwards carried on board, but did not 

underftand by whom. 

Robert Fenton. 
Sworn the 2 2d June, before us: 

Philip Livingston, 

John Jay. 

Thomas Fletcher, a Private in Captain Newel's Company of artillery, 
being fworn faith : That this deponent was lately a private in Colonel 
Huntingdon's Regiment, in Captain Truebridge's Company ; that about a 
month ago one John Campbell, a fhoemaker, living next door to the fign 
of the Buck, oppofite to the weftern fide of the Fly market, employed 
him to work as a journeyman with him at fuch times as he was not on 
duty ; that after deponent had worked with him a while, he was pleafed 
with deponent's work and endeavored to perfuade him to inlift, faying, 
' Damn the Congrefs ; who gave them liberty to raife foldiers ? Come 
with me, I will conceal you, or fend you off, as I have done with two or 
three others ;' that deponent coniented, and was concealed by him for 
two weeks and a half, and finding that he could not clear his confcience 
in what he had done, he fent for his comrade and delivered himfelf up, 
and hath ever fince done his duty as a foldier; he has frequently heard 
the faid Campbell in converfation curfe the Congrefs — fay he wifhed the 
whole town were all Tories, and that the Mayor was as big a one as any 
in it. And further this deponent faith not. 



Sworn the 22d June, 1776, before us: 



Thomas Fletcher. 

John Jay, 
Gouvernour Morris. 

Daniel 



(69 ) 



Daniel Gray, of Stamford, in Connecticut, being fworn, faith : That 
Nathaniel Williams, of Huntingdon, told him the day before yefterday 
that a gentleman had reported there that as he was by a fence by the 
road, Hugh Wallace, Theophilact Bache, Charles McEvers, and three 
others, whofe names this deponent hath forgotten, pafTed by and he over- 
heard them faying that the enemy were to land at Rapalye's mills, take 
pofTeffion of the forts on Long-Ifand, and thence play on the town, and 
that they were to be joined by the forces on Long-Ifland. And further 

faith not. 

Daniel Gray. 

Sworn the 22d day of June, 1776 : 

Philip Livingston, 

John Jay, 

Gouverneur Morris. 

Hugh Steven/on, being duly fworn on the Holy Evangelift of Almighty 
God, depofeth and faith: That on the 1 8th of this inftant June he 
bought fifteen pounds of powder of Mr. Nicholas Conery, at the fign of 
the Red Lion, between Batemarfs and Bur ling's flip, in New-York, and 
that fome time part he (this deponent) bought ten pounds of the faid 
Conery, and that he fuppofed it came from on board the Afia. And 
further this deponent faith not. 

Sworn before me this 22d day of June, 1776. 

Abel Belknap. 
ChaiSn Com. Inftfn for Precinc? of Newburgh. 

Corneluis Piatt, being fworn, depofeth and faith : That he came from 
New-York with Mr. Hugh Stevenfon in his boat laft Wednefday ; that 
on his pafTage Mr. Stevenfon told him he had fome thing on board, that 
if it was found out it would be as much as his neck and his whole floop 
were worth. This deponent afked Mr. Stevenfon what it was, Stevenfon 
anfwered it was fifteen pounds of powder ; who was afked if it was our 
country powder. He faid not ; it came from the Afia man-of-war. He 
further afked him what he expected to do with it. His anfwer was, that 
he expected to fell it at one dollar per pound ; that fifteen pounds of 
powder, would fetch him fifteen dollars. The deponent further faith 
that he and Mr. Stevenfon had fome difcourfe about the times, when Mr. 

Stevenfon 



( 7° ) 



Stevenfon told him that he expefted that all thefe officers would foon be 
fwung up, and the deponent took it that he meant all thefe Continental 
officers. At the laft of the time this deponent afked Steven/on, whether 
he intended to fell his powder to the Tories. He told him he did not. 
And further this deponent faith not. 

Sworn before me this 22d day of June, 1776. 

Abel Belknap. 
Chair'n Com. Infp'n for PrecineJ of Newburgh. 

To Captain Abeel : 

Sir : Whereas Peter McLean of the City of New-Tork, Shoemaker, 
ftands charged with dangerous defigns and treafonable confpiracies againft 
the rights and liberties of the United Colonies of America : We do, in 
purfuance of a certain refolve of the Congrefs of this Colony of the 20th 
of June inftant, authorize and requeft you to caufe the faid Peter McLean 
to be, with all his papers, forthwith apprehended and fecured, and that 
return be made to us of the manner in which this warrant fhall be exe- 
cuted, in order that the fame may be made known to the faid Congrefs. 
Given under our hands this 22d day of June, 1776. 

Philip Livingston, 
John Jay, 
Gouverneur Morris. 

To William Allison, Efquire, and Colonel Clinton, or either of them. 
Gentlemen: Whereas James Matthews ftands charged with dangerous 
defigns and treafonable confpiracies againft the rights and liberties of the 
United Colonics of Atnerica : We do, in purfuance of a certain refolve 
of the Congrefs of this Colony of the 20th of June inftant, authorize 
and requeft you to caufe the faid James Matthews to be, with all his 
papers, forthwith apprehended and fecured, and that return be made to 
us of the manner in which this warrant fliall be executed, in order that 
the fame may be made known to the faid Congrefs. 
Given under our hands this 22d day of June, \J~j6. 

Philip Livingston, 
Gouverneur Morris, 
John Jay. 

The 



( 7i ) 



The within named James Matthews, taken at his place of abode in 
Cornwall Precinct, Orange County, purfuant to the within warrant, and 
delivered to the Committee, but no papers containing information relative 
to the confpiracy. 

Per me, William Allison. 

New-York, June 25, 1776. 

To William Allison and Colonel Clinton, or either of them. 

Gentlemen: Whereas William Forbes and Clarke ftand charged 

with dangerous defigns and treafonable confpiracies againft the rights and 
liberties of the United Colonies of America : We do, in purfuance of a 
certain refolve of the Congrefs of this Colony of the 20th of June 
inftant, authorize and requeft you to caufe the faid William Forbes and 

Clarke to be, with all their papers, forthwith apprehended and 

fecured, and that return be made to us of the mannner in which this 
warrant (hall be executed, in order that the fame may be made known to 
the faid Congrefs. 

Given under our hands this 22d day of June, \J"]6. 

Philip Livingston, 
Gouverneur Morris, 
John Jay. 

In purfuance of the within warrant, went in fearch of the within 

named William Forbes and Clarke to the upper end of Orange 

County, their ufual place of abode, but found they were gone off; but on 
returning to New-York, found them in cuftody of the guards. 

William Allison. 

New-York, June 25, 1776. 

To Captain Abeel : 

Sir: Whereas, John Campbell ftands charged with dangerous defigns 
and treafonable confpiracies againft the rights and liberties of the United 
Colonies of America : We do in purfuance of a certain refolve of the 
Congrefs of this Colony of the 20th of June inftant, authorize and 
requeft you to caufe the faid John Campbell to be, with all his papers, 
L forthwith 



( 72 ) 



forthwith apprehended and fecured, and that return be made to us of the 
manner in which this warrant fhall be executed, in order that the 
fame be made known to the faid Congrefs. 

Given under our hands this 22d day of June, \Jj6. 

John Jay, 

gouverneur morris, 
Philip Livingston. 

To General Greene, Najau IJland : 

Sir: Whereas George Brewerton, Efq., Hands charged with dangerous 
defigns and treafonable confpiracies againft the rights and liberties of the 
United Colonies of America : We do, in purfuance of a certain refolve 
of the Congrefs of this Colony of the 20th of June inftant, authorize 
and requeft you to caufe the faid George Brewerton to be, with all his 
papers, forthwith apprehended and fecured, and that return be made to 
us of the manner in which this warrant fhall be executed, in order that 
the fame may be made known to the faid Congrefs. 
Given under our hands this 22d day of June, 1776. 

Philip Livingston, 
gouverneur morris, 
John Jay. 

Camp Long-Ifland, June 22, 1776. 

Captain Jeremiah Alney : 

You will take fuch a party out of the brigade as will be neceffary to 

carry the within order of Congrefs into execution, and ferve Brewerton 

with this warrant, feize his perfon, and fecure his papers, agreeable to the 

within warrant, as foon as may be, and bring him and them to me, and 

report your doings herein. 

Nathaniel Greene. 



June 25th. — Captain Alney has made two attempts, agreeable to the 
report accompanying this, to take Alderman Brewerton prifoner, but 
was not succefsful. This day he came and delivered himfelf up. Have 
fent him under the care of Captain Brown. 

Nathaniel Greene. 

June 



( 73 ) 



June 23, 1776. 
Samp/on Dyckman now prefent, returns, that he left the fummons 
di reded to James Jauncey, Jun., Efq., on Thurfday laft, with the matter 
of the houfe where Mr. Jauncey lodges, who then informed him that 
Mr. Jauncey was gone abroad with his wife, and had been abfent fome 
days, but was expected to return on that or the next day. 

That he delivered the fummonfes directed to William Axtell, David 
Matthews, Charles McEvers, and Whitehead Hicks, Efquires, to them- 
felves refpectively, Thurfday laft, and on the fame day left the fummons 
directed to George Brewerton, Efq., at his lodgings at Flatlands, with a 
woman there, faid to be his houfekeeper. 

That on Friday laft he delivered the fummons directed to Tho?nas 
Jones, Samuel Martin, and George D. Ludlow, Efquires, to themfelves 
refpectively; that on that day he delivered the fummons directed to Ga- 
briel Ludlow to a woman in his houfe, faid to be Mrs. Ludlow, his wife, 
who informed him that Mr. Gabriel Ludlow was not at home; and that 
he alfo left the fummons directed to Samuel Clowes at his houfe, with his 
wife, who faid he was not at home. 

That on Saturday morning laft he delivered the fummonfes directed to 
Archibald Hamilton, David Colden, and John Willett, Efquires, to them- 
felves refpectively ; that the fummons directed to Richard Colden, he 
delivered to a woman at his houfe, whom he fuppofed to be his wife ; 
that each fummons which he did not ferve perfonally, he defired the per- 
fon to whom he delivered it to fend or deliver it to the perfon to whom 
it was directed as foon as poffible. That the fummons directed to Thom- 
as Hicks, at Rockaway, he delivered to the Secretary after his return to 
New-York, as the faid Thomas Hicks is deceafed upwards of four months 
ago, from the beft information which he could obtain. 

New- York, June 23, 1776. 
Gentlemen: According to your orders of the 22d inftant to me, I 
have taken all the prifoners mentioned in them, to wit : William Forbes, 
John Clark, Anthony Clark, and John Campbell, whom I have delivered 
to the guard, and am ready to execute any further commands I lhall 
receive, having the guard for this day. 

I am, gentlemen, your molt humble fervant, 

James Abeel. 



( 7+ ) 



David Matthews, Efq., Mayor of the City of New-York, being exam- 
ined, faith : That about fix or feven weeks ago the examinant went on 
board the Dutcbefs-of-Gordon, by permiffion of General Putnam, to 
obtain from the Governour permiiTion for Lord Drummond to go to Ber- 
muda ; that as the examinant was about to leave the Dutcbefs, the Gov- 
ernour took him into his private room, and put a bundle of paper money 
into his hands, telling examinant to take out five pounds and give it to the 
prifoners in the Jail, and pay the remainder to Gilbert Forbes, for fome 
rifles and round-bored guns which he had made for him, and for others 
which the faid Forbes was to make, and to tell Forbes that he did not 
want any more rifles ; that this examinant was furprifed to hear that the 
faid Forbes was engaged in that bufinefs, and at the fame time thought 
that Governour Tryon had put a matter on his fhoulders which might 
bring him into fome difficulty ; that the examinant, on his return to this 
city, confulted a friend of his, telling him that he would mention a mat- 
ter to him which he believed would furprife him ; and then informed 
him that Gilbert Forbes had fupplied the Governour with a number of 
arms, and was employed in that bufinefs ; and that examinant had 
brought up the monev to pay him, at the fame time mentioning that he 
thought the Governour had put a hard talk on his fhoulders; that examin- 
ant then advifed with him what he fhould do, and afked him whether 
he would take the money and endeavor to convey it to him privately, 
which he declined doing, and faid that he would mention the matter fo to 
Gilbert Forbes as that he would be able to determine by his anfwers 
whether he was the man ; that to this examinant confented ; that examin- 
ant, after leaving his friend, concluded that it would be beft not to pay 
the faid money to Forbes, but to delay it as long as poffible, that in cafe of a 
difcoverv, the examinant might avail himfelf of not having paid, although 
he had received the faid money ; that fhortly after Forbes called on this 
examinant, and told him that he had been defired by the gentleman to 
whom this examinant had mentioned it, to call on him for the money 
examinant had received for him of Governour Tryon; that examinant then 
afked him if it were poffible that he had been fending guns on board the 
Governour's fliip ; to which he anfwered in the affirmative ; that examin- 
ant then told him he would be hanged if he was found out, and requefted 
him, if he regarded his fafety, that he would not go on with fuch fchemes j 

that 



( 75 ) 



that he faid he could fend them on board in fuch a way that nobody- 
could find it out ; that he had fent them on board in a canoe or boat, 
covered with a ftraw bed, and two or three old chairs upon it ; that he 
then afked examinant to pay him the money ; to which examinant 
anfwered, that he was to receive money, and as foon as he got it, he 
would pay it to him ; on which they parted ; that a few days after he 
called on examinant again to know whether examinant had received the 
money, for that he wanted it very much ; examinant told him he had not ; 
and the better to account for delays, the examinant had recourfe to this 
fubterfuge, that the Governour had given him pofitive orders not to 
receive any payments for him but in York or Jerfey money ; that with 
this he feemed pleafed, and requefted examinant to pay him in that 
money, becaufe with it he could purchafe certain articles neceffary in his 
bufinefs cheaper than with any other ; that he then informed examinant 
that he had a number of men whom he wanted to fend down to the 
Governour; that examinant told him that he might fave himfelf that trou- 
ble?, for that the Governour had told this examinant that he had been 
obliged to turn manv on fhore, and could not receive any more ; on 
which Forbes exprefTed fome concern as to what he fhould do with them; 
on which examinant defired him to tell the men to go to their homes 
and drop any fuch fchemes ; that fhortly after the faid Forbes again 
called on this examinant for the money, and mentioned a fcheme of raif 
ing a company, and requefted to know whether he could have a commif- 
fion; that examinant, on this, begged of him to defift from fuch a 
fcheme, for that he would certainly be difcovered, and the gallows would 
be his lot, and that it would be time enough for him to inlift men or 
aft when he got his commiffion ; that he faid he could carry it on fo as 
not to be found out, and that he could inlift a number of the General's 
Guards; that on this they parted; that this examinant then found out 
that Mr. Forbes became fo troublefome to him that, in order to get out 
of his way and ftave off the payment aforefaid, this examinant kept more 
in the country than he would otherwife have done ; then, on Forbes find- 
ing this, he purfued examinant up to Flatbujb, and not finding him there, 
purfued him to Polbemus, about four miles from Jamaica, in order to 
get his money ; that this examinant, finding there was no way to get rid 
of him, told him that on Monday examinant would come to town and 

pay 



( 76 ) 



pay him his money, which was accordingly done, viz : one hundred and 
fourteen pounds eight millings, and examinant then hoped that he mould 
not be plagued with him any more ; that the next day examinant again 
came to town, and had been in his houfe but a tew minutes when Forbes 
came into examinant's office ; that examinant told him he mult never 
come into examinant's office any more, on which he went away without 
faying a word; that John Young, the examinant's clerk, was prefent 
and then in the faid office, and that examinant has not feen the faid 
Forbes fince ; that at the time when the faid Forbes called on the ex- 
aminant as aforefaid, he mentioned to this examinant a fcheme he had 
of taking pofTeffion of one of the batteries when the fleet arrived, and 
another fcheme of cutting down King's bridge ; that this examinant 
defired his friend above-mentioned to advife and beg the faid Forbes to 
defift from the faid meafures and give them over; that this examinant 
has never fince or before received from Governour Tryon any other fum 
whatever for any fuch purpofes whatever. That fhortly before the time 
when this examinant paid the afore-faid money to the faid Forbes, this 
examinant was at WaldroyPs Ferry, Handing near John Carpenter's 
floop, and that the faid Forbes, being in company with one Sergeant 
Graham, turned off from faid Graham and came up to this examinant; 
that this examinant afked him where he had been ; he anfwered that he 
had been to look at all the fortifications ; examinant afked him whether 
he was not afraid of being taken up by the fentries, to which he replied 
that he was not, for that he could go there whenever he pleafed. That 
about the time when this examinant paid the money aforefaid to Forbes, 
this examinant being in office, a man in regimentals came in, which 
alarmed this examinant ; that he afked him whether he wanted this ex- 
aminant ; he afked examinant whether he was the Mayor, to which 
examinant replied he was, and afked him what he wanted ; he obferved 
to this examinant, that examinant did not know him, for that he had 
never feen him before ; examinant faid he did not know him ; he told 
examinant he was one of General Wafiington's Guards, and meant to » 
ferve the king; examinant told him he had nothing to do with inlifting 
men for the king; he faid he had inlifted fome that morning himfelf, and 
was about to pull a paper out of his pocket, in order to fhow examinant 
their names ; that examinant told him he did not want to know their 

names 



( 11 ) 



names, and had nothing to do with them, and advifed him to return to 
his quarters, for that if he was difcovered he would be brought to the 
gallows ; on which he went away, and examinar.t has neither feen nor 
heard of him fince. That another man, a little before the time laft- 
mentioned, who faid he came from the country, and knew examinant's 
father and brother, came to this examinant to fee if he could not get on 
board the fhip ; examinant afked him why he left his home ; he faid he 
had been fo perfecuted he could not itay ; examinant advifed him to 
return and keep himfelf quiet, and that examinant imagined nobody 
would hurt him ; that he replied he mult and would get on board fome 
how or other, for that he did not dare to go back; examinant then afked 
his name, which he told him was Forbes ; examinant told him then that 
he did not know of a likelier person to ferve him than a namefake of his 
that was in town ; he afked examinant if he meant Gilbert Forbes, to 
which he replied yes ; he faid he knew him, and went in quell of him ; 
and that examinant has never feen him fince. That feveral other perfuns, 
unknown to this examinant, have at different times called on this examin- 
ant to inquire how they might get on board the fhip, and that examinant 
always advifed them to return home ; and fince examinant's interview 
aforefaid with the Governour, he told fuch as called upon him for the 
purpofe aforefaid that there was no room for them on board ; that many 
had been turned away, and that they had better go home. That this 
examinant has no further knowledge than what he has as aforefaid de- 
clared relative to any perfons being engaged in the bufinefs of inlifting 
men for the King's fervice, or in keeping up a communication between 
the city and the Governour's fhip, or men-of-war at the Narrows. 
That this examinant does not know otherwife than by fight, and has 
never fpoken or written a line to Peter McLean, a fhoemaker in the 

town, on any fubject whatever. 

D. Matthews. 

New-York, June 23, 1776. Examined by 

Philip Livingston, 
John Jay, 
gouverneur morris. 

William Forbes, of Gojhen Precinct, in Orange County, Tanner and 
Currier, being examined, faith : That he knows Gilbert Forbes, of the 

city 



( 78 ) 



city of New York, gunfmith ; that the firft time he faw him was in this 
city, between the Brick Meeting and the Jail ; that he heard fomebody 
call him Mr Forbes; this examinant acccfted him and told him that 
his name was Forbes alfo ; that thereupon they went into Iloulding's 
tavern and drank together; that he has been at the houfe of the faid 
Gilbert Forbes, on an invitation from him. That he knows a Sergeant 
in General Wajbington's Guards, but cannot recoiled his name; that he 
became acquainted with him at Corby's, (an inn-keeper,) near General 
Wafhington's ; that this examinant went to Corby's in company with one 
James Mafon, of Ringwood, who was at work in Corby's garden; that 

the Sergeant was a middle- fized, frefh complexioned man an Eng- 

li(k?nan ; that examinant became acquainted with James Mafon at 
Dutchcfs County ; afterwards faw him at Gojben, and from thence came 
in company with him to this town ; that he told Mafon he had been on 
board the man-of-war laft winter, while fhe lay in the Eajl River ; that 
he never was on board the Dutchefs-of-Gordon ; that he never faid he 
was on board the Savage when (he fired on Staten-Ifland. That he 
had heard, and, among others, from the faid Mafon, that two hundred 
acres of land were offered by Governour Try on to each man who would 
go in the King's fervice, and one hundred to the wife, and fifty to each 
child. That examinant borrowed twenty odd (hillings of Mafon, and 
promifed to repay him when examinant got money from on board the 
man-of-war, where he had two brothers-in-law, who had promifed to 
fend him money to pay his debts. That he never engaged with Go- 
vernour Tryon, or with any other perfon whatever to undertake the bufi- 
nefs of inlifting foldiers for the King, nor of enticing the Continental 
foldiers to leave that fervice. That he and Mafon came to town by way 
of Elizabethtown, and that at Warwick, Mafon perfuaded one William 
Benjamin to go along with them. That he knows Peter McLean, a 
fhoemaker, near the Exchange ; that examinant applied to him to put 
him on board the man-of-war ; that McLean anfwered he could not do 
it at all, the fentries were fo ftricT; ; that examinant then faid to McLean 
that then he would inlift in the Continental fervice, which he has fince 
done, in Captain Beekman's Company, of Lafber s Battalion. That 
examinant, Majon, and Benjamin lodged, the firft night they came to 
town, at Houlding's ; that while they were there Corby was introduced 

to 



( 79 ) 



to Benjamin and Ma/on by Gilbert Forbes ; Corby took them to his 
houfe, where this examinant has feen them, in company with Gilbert 
Forbes and the aforefaid Sergeant of the Guards. This examinant law 
the faid Sergeant and Gilbert Forbes adminifter oaths of fecrecy to 
Ma/on and two or three foldiers ; that Corby was prefent when the faid 
foldiers were fworn as aforefaid. That after McLean had, as aforefaid, 
told this examinant that he knew not how to get on board the man-cf- 
war, McLean recommended him to David Matthews, Efq., as a proper 
perfon to direct him how to get on board the man-of-war ; that examin- 
ant accordingly went to Mr. Matthews and told him that McLean had 
directed examinant to him as a proper perfon to tell him how he fhould 
get on board the man-of war, and that there was a lad (meaning Mafon) 
who had come down from Ringwood, and wanted to go along ; that Mr. 
Matthews told him it was too dangerous for him to fay anything about 
it, but that he would direct him to one that could get him on board, and 
fent this examinant for that purpofe to Gilbert Forbes ; that this examin- 
ant accordingly applied to the faid Gilbert Forbes, and that Forbes faid 
he could not do anything in it till he had feen Corby ; that fhortly after 
the faid Gilbert Forbes told this examinant that he had feen Corby, and 
that Corby faid he would get examinant on board in a few days j that 
examinant afterwards faw Corby, and that he made the like promife to 
examinant, but Corby afterwards told him he could not ; and that he 
had been able to fend only one on board, by a mulatto fellow. That 
this examinant knows "John Clarke ; and that he told this examinant that 
he had fifty or fixty men to go in the King's fervice, and that he had 
prevailed upon his brother, Anthony Clarke, to confent to go with them ; 
that John Clarke was to be a Captain, and that one Seely, of Chefier t 
in Orange County was alfo to be one of the officers. 

William Forbes. 
Examined the 23d day of June, 1776, before us : 

John Jay, 
gouverneur morris. 

City of New- York, ss : 

James Savage, being examined, faith, That he hath not, during the 

prefent troubles, infilled or engaged any men in the fervice of the King, 

• M or 



( 8o ) 



or kept up or held any correfpondence with any perfons on board the 
Dutchefs-of-Gordon, or the fhips or veflels of war at the Narrows. 

Philip Livingston, 
John Jay, 

gouverneur morris. 
New-York, June 23, 1776. 

Job?i Clarke, of Blooming Grove, in Orange County, Painter and 
Glazier, faith, That he never hath inlifted any men for the King, nor 
engaged any ; nor hath he ever faid fo. That he hath feen Gilbert 
Forbes at his fhop ; went there with William Forbes to fee if faid Gil- 
bert would fubfcribe for a perfpeclive view of Ouebeck ; that he did not 
tell William Forbes that he was concerned in inlifling men, nor that he 
was employed by Governour Tryon ; that he did not tell faid William 
Forbes, or any other perfon, that he had inlifted any men, that he did 
not defire Gilbert Forbes to get him a paflage on board the Governour's 
fhip, and that he never hath been on board the Governour's fhip, nor 

attempted to go there. 

John Clarke. 

Examination taken the 23d June, 1776, before us: 

Philip Livingston, 

John Jay, 

gouverneur morris. 

John Kearl, of the city of New-York, Shoemaker, being fworn, faith, 
That he has for fome time paft worked as a journeyman with Peter 
McLean, near the Exchange ; that the faid McLean has worked, and 
both made and mended fhoes for people on board the Jfia fince 
fhe has been down at the Narrows, as the faid McLean informed this depo- 
nent ; but this deponent knows not in what manner the faid fhoes were 
conveyed on board, or by whom. That this deponent has feen a coun- 
tryman of the name of Forbes, frequently at McLean's, alfo one Hould- 
ing, an Inn-keeper near the Barracks, and Edward Nicolls, confectioner ; 
and further faith not. John Kearl. 

Examined and fworn 23d June, 1776, by and before 

Philip Livingston, 
John Jay, 
gouverneur morris. 

City 



(8i ) 



City of New-York, ss : 

Abraham Ackerman, commonly called Abraham Jones, of Clar kef- 
town, Orange County, being fworn, faith, That about a fortnight or 
three weeks ago this deponent came to this city in order to get a birth 
on board fome veflel ; that he lodged at the houfe of Peter McLean, a 
fhoemaker, near the Exchange ; that he has feen one Mr. Edward 
Nicolls and one Peter Lenge, a confedtioner, often at McLean's, and 
heard them talk very much like Tories ; that he has often feen a man 
there whofe name he has fince heard to be Forbes, a countryman ; that 
McLean ufed to go fifhing often ; that this deponent believes that Mc- 
Lean is now at Bull's Ferry — his wife has gone there (as he fays,) 
once or twice a week ever fince McLean left this city, which was at the 
time fome Tories were carried about on rails ; and further faith not. 

Abraham Ackerman. 
Sworn and examined the 23d June, 1776, before us: 

Philip Livingston, 
John Jay, 
gouverneur morris. 

John Craig, late a foldier of the Eighteenth Regiment, being duly 
fworn upon the Holy Evangelifts of Almighty God, depofeth and faith, 
That being now a prifoner in the common jail of the City and County 
of New-York, he has frequently obferved that Captain Savage, a prifoner 
now in the faid jail, hath received fundry letters from perfons on board 
the King's fhip and the Dutchefs-of-Gordon, as he believes, by means of 
one James, a tall man, with lightifh coloured clothes, marked with the 
fmall-pox, light hair, about forty years of age; and another of the name 
of Matthews, a perfon about five feet fix inches high, well fet and a 
dark complexion ; that the laft of the two on Wednefday laft was in the 
jail, and this deponent heard Captain Savage fay, ' 'Matthews, ftay a few 
minutes and I will have them all ready ; meaning certain letters which 
he was then writing, to go on board the faid fhips. And this deponent 
further faith, that the faid Captain Savage, hath inveigled a number of 
the Continental troops to inlift in his Majefty's fervice, among whom are 
one Irwin, belonging to Captain Hardenbergh's Company, and late of 
the Twenty-Sixth Regiment of Foot; Peter McClofkey, of the fame 

company 



( 82 ) 



company, a fifer, and late of the fame regiment ; Richard Smith, of the 
fame company, late of the Seventh Regiment of Foot ; and James John- 
Jon, a fifer of the General's Guards. And this deponent further faith, 
that Gilbert Forbes, who is, as he is informed, committed by order of a 
Committee of the Congrefs, is confined in the room oppofite to him; 
that a fentry was placed on the outfide of the door of the room in which 
faid Forbes is confined ; that the outer and inner doors were fhut ; and, 
about ten o'clock at night, Peter Chiles, at the requeft of faid Forbes, and 
of the Tories, in the jail, opened the inner door, that faid Forbes might 
as he faid have air ; that Chiles opened the inner door by pufhing the 
bolts back with the ramming-rod of the fentry, who was placed at the 
door. That after the door was opened, the faid Forbes, by means of a 
hole in the outer door, converfed freely with the Tories in the paffage ; 
that Harris the midfhipman taken by the Riflemen from on board the 
Savage, and Mr. Medcalf, fpoke to him ; and the faid Forbes gave two 
half pints of liquor to the woman to fing Tory fongs. And further this 
deponent faith, that Mr. Harris hath written fundry letters, as well as 
the faid Captain Savage, to go on board the faid fhips ; and that Mr. Har- 
ris and Mr. Elder are, as this deponent believes, concerned with the 
faid Captain Savage in inlifting the men ; and further this deponent 
faith not. 

John Craig. 
Sworn the 23d of June, 1776, before us: 

Philip Livingston, 
John Jay, 
gouverneur morris. 

City of New- York, //.* 

John Andrews, a Corporal of Captain Dewit's Minute Company at 
Rhinebeck, and now a prifoner in the fame room with the above-named 
John Craig, being duly fworn, depofeth and faith, That the feveral 
matters and facts in the above depofition contained are, to the beft of 
his knowledge and belief, true, the faid John Andrew, from being con- 
fined in the fame room with the faid John Craig, being in the like 

manner 



( 8 3 ) 



manner with the faid John Craig privy to the feveral matters and things 
contained in the faid affidavit. 

his 
"John X Andrew, 

mark. 

Sworn the 23d of June, \jj6, before us : 

Philip Livingston, 
John Jay, 
Gouverneur Morris. 

Monday, ten o'clock A. M., June 24, 1776. 

The Committee met in the Council-Chamber in the City-Hall of the 
City of New-York, purfuant to the agreement of Yefterday, the Court- 
Room being occupied by prifoners and guard. 

Prefent: John Jay, Efq., Chairman, Mr. Philip Living/ton, Mr. 
Hobart, Mr. Randall, Colonel Graham, Mr. Morris, Mr. Ganfevoort 

Mr. Axtell attended in purfuance of the fummons from this Com- 
mittee, and returnable this day. 

The Chairman informed Mr. Axtell of the Refolutions of the Con- 
grefs relative to perfons of equivocal character, and told him the Com- 
mittee hoped he would give them evidence of his being a friend to the 
American caufe. 

Mr. Axtell appealed to the uniform tenour of his conduft, which he 
faid, had never been unfriendly to this country. 

The Chairman then afked him whether he approved of the American 
oppofition. He replied that he did not of the whole, and fignified his 
difapprobation of the Canada expedition. 

The Chairman afked him whether he thought the Parliament of 
Great Britain had a right to bind thefe Colonies in all cafes whatfoever. 
To which he replied that, in his opinion, they had not. 

The Chairman then afked him whether refiftance by arms to the hof- 
tile attempts of the Britijh fleets and armies, to execute and enforce 
thofe claims to this queftion, was juftifiable. 

Mr. Axtell declined to give an anfwer, declaring that he did not mean 
to take an active part on either fide — that the bulk of his fortune was 
in Britain and the Wejl-Indies. 

Mr. Axtell was then defired to withdraw. 

And 



( 8+ ) 



And the Committee went into a confideration of Mr. AxtelPs, cafe 
in the courfe of which the following queftions were put by the Chairman. 
Whether Mr. Axtell is fuch a friend to the country as is defcribed in 
the faid refolutions ? Carried unanimoufly in the negative. 

2d. Whether it is neceflary to remove Mr. Axtell from his prefent 
place of refidence ? On which Mr. Morris moved that the queftion be 
deferred for confideration. Which was carried in the negative. 

The queftion being then put, Whether he fhall be removed from his 
prefent place of refidence? Agreed unanimouflv in the negative. 

The queftion was then put, whether any other fecurity fhould be 
demanded of Mr. Axtell than his parole ? Agreed unanimoufly that his 
parole is fufficient, and that no other fecurity be required. 

Mr. Axtell was then called in, and defired to give his parole that he 
would not, directly or indirectly, oppofe or contravene the meafures of 
the Continental Congrefs or of the Congrefs of this Colony. Mr. Axtell 
objected that the parole is fo broad that it may admit of difagreeable 
conftructions of fuch part of his conduct as he may think the moil inno- 
cent, and offered to give his parole not to take an active part againft the 
American caufe. 

A copy of the parole was then given unto him, and he was defired to 
confider the fame, and attend this Committee again on Tburfday next. 

John Willett, Efq., attending on a fummons returnable here this day, 
was called in ; and the refolutions of the Congrefs of this Colony as to 
perfons of equivocal character, read to him by the Chairman. 

The faid John Willett, was then afked by the Chairman whether he 
had any evidence to give, or could fhow caufe why he fhould be confidered 
as a friend to America, &c. To which he replied that he had no other 
rcafon but his opinion that the Parliament have no right to lay internal 
taxes on America. 

Said John Willett was then afked if he would fign the Aflbciation by 
the Provincial Congrefs made on the 20th inftant. To which he replied 
that he had no other objection to it but that he did not choofe to take up 
arms. 

Said John Willett was then afked whether he thought the caufe of 
America juft or unjuft. To which he replied he was not a proper judge 
of the matter. 

Said 



( 8 5 ) 



Said John Wihett was then afked whether he was for the Congrefs or 
againft it. To which he replied he was not againft it. 

Said John Willett was then afked if he was for the Congrefs. To 
which he replied he fhould never difturb them. 

Said John Willett was then afked to whom he wifhed fuccefs — General 
Wajhington or General Howe. To which he replied he wifhed thofe 
might fucceed who had juftice on their fide. 

Said John Willett was then afked on which fide he thought juftice was. 
To which he replied he was no judge, but wifhed that juftice might take 
place. 

The faid John Willett was then requefted to withdraw. 

Refohed unanimoujly, That the faid John Willett is not a friend to the 
cuufe and rights of America. 

Refohed unanimoujly , That it is not neceflary to remove the faid John 
Willett from his ftated place of refidence. 

Refohed unanimoujly, That the faid John Willett give bond to the 
Prefident of the Congrefs of this Colony for the time being, by name, in 
the fum of two thoufand pounds, that he will neither directly nor indi- 
rectly contravene or oppofe the meafures of the Continental Congrefs or 
of the Congrefs of this Colony. 

The faid John Willett was then called in, and did confent to give fuch 
bond ; wherefore, 

Ordered, that Mr. McKeJfon prepare and get the fame executed by 
the faid John Willett. 

Know all men by thefe prefents, that I, John Willett, of the Townfhip 
of Jamaica, in Queens County, of the Colony of Nezv-Tork, Efquire, 
am held and firmly bound unto John Haring, Efq., Prefident of the 
Congrefs of the Colony of Nezv-Tork, in the fum of two thoufand 
pounds, lawful money of Nezv-Tork, to be paid to the faid John Ilaring 
or to his certain attorney, executors, adminiftrators and affigns ; for which 
payment well and truly to be made and done, I bind myfelf, my heirs, 
executors and adminiftrators, firmly by thefe prefents. 

Sealed with my feal, and dated this twenty-fourth day of June, in the 
year of our Lord one thoufand, feven hundred and feventy-fix. 

The condition of the above obligation is fuch, that if the above-bound 
John Willett fhall neither directly nor indirectly oppofe or contravene 

the 



( 86 ) 



the meafures of the Continental Congrefs or the Congrefs of this Colony, 
then the above obligation to be void ; otherwife to remain in full force 
and virtue. 

John Willett. 
Sealed and delivered in the prefence of us : 

Robert Benson, 
John McKesson. 

Captain Archibald Hamilton, attending on the fummons, returnable 
here this day, was called in. 

The Chairman informed Captain Hamilton of the reafons of his being 
fo fummoned, and read to him the refolutions of Congrefs relative to per- 
fons of equivocal character, and told him he was confidered as of that 
number ; and that the Committee hoped he would give them fatisfactory 
evidence of his being a friend to America. 

Captain Hamilton thereupon obferved that he loved America : that he 
fought and bled and been in irons for her ; that he wifhes her free and 
happy ; and that no promifes or offers of reward or preferment could 
tempt him to draw his fword againft her ; that he has refufed fuch offers, 
and that he holds no office or commiflion whatever under the King of 
Great Britain ; that he has a brother and other near relations now ferv- 
ing in the King's armies, and that he could not think of unfheathing his 
fword againft them or the King. 

Captain Hamilton, on being afked by the chairman, whether, in his 
opinion, the Parliament of Great Britain have a right to bind thefe 
Colonies in all cafes whatfoever; faid he was not fufficiently acquainted 
with fubjefts of that kind to anfwer the queftion ; but that if he had twenty 
hearts, he would fooner lofe the blood in them all than lofe his liberty. 

The chairman then afked him whether he would give his parole of 
honour neither directly nor indirectly to oppofe or contravene the mea- 
fures of the Continental Congrefs or the Congrefs of this Colony ; to 
which he anfwered that he would very readily, for that he never would 
injure America in word, thought, or deed. 

Captain Hamilton was then defired to withdraw, and the committee 
proceeded to take his cafe into confideration. The refult of which was, 
that they 

Refolved 



( 8 7 ) 



Refolved, That Captain Hamilton was not fuch a friend to the Ameri- 
can caufe as is defcribed in the faid resolutions of the Congrefs ; that it 
was unneccfTary that he fhould be removed from the place of his prefent 
refidence ; that confidence might be repofed in him as a man of honour; 
and therefore that his parole was fufficient fecurity for his not oppofing or 
contravening the meafures of the Continental Congrefs or the Congrefs of 
this Colony. 

Captain Hamilton was then called in, and on his agreeing to give 
fuch parole, it was reduced to writing, and, on his figning it, was 
difcharged. 

New-York, June 24, 1776. 
I, Archibald Hamilton, Efq., do declare upon my honour that I will 
not, direftly or indirectly, oppofe or contravene the meafures of the Con- 
tinental Congrefs or of the Congrefs of this Colony. 

Arch. Hamilton. 

John rates, of the Wallkill Precinct, in Uljler County, labourer, being 
fworn, faith : That early in this laft fpring Alfalom Bull, one of depo- 
nent's neighbours, came to him and told him he was but a poor man, and 
that if he would go with the faid Bull, he would make a gentleman of 
this deponent. That this deponent afked him how. He replied that if 
this deponent would go and fcrve the King for three years, or to the end 
of the American war if that mould fooner happen, this deponent fhould 
have two hundred acres of land on the frontiers. That deponent faid it 
was very uncertain, for he did not fee how he was to get a warranty deed 
for it j but if he could get a warranty deed for two hundred acres of land, 
he did not know but he might engage. On this they parted. That for 
many days repeatedly after that, the faid Abfalom Bull, together with 
Ifaac Waugh and Richard Bull, came to this deponent and preffed him 
to enter into the King's fervice, but the deponent put them off. That 
they afterwards went, as they informed this deponent, on board the man- 
of-war, and when they returned, brought him a letter from Governour 
Tryon, informing this deponent that if he would come on board his fhip 
and pilot the men-of-war up the North River, he would give this depo- 
nent a dollar a day and five pounds a foot for every foot that the veflcl 
N he 



( 88 ) 



he piloted drew more than twenty feet, and fhould have two hundred 
acres of land at the determination of the American war ; and that Ireland, 
Scotland and Wales had all united with England to fubdue America. 
That this deponent had, till within a few years laft part, been a feafaring 
man, and was well acquainted with the navigation of the North River, 
which was well known to his faid neighbours, and, as this deponent be- 
lieves, was by them made known to Governour Tryon. That this 
deponent afterwards received two other letters of the like import, from 
Governour Tryon. That about fix weeks ago this deponent, together 
with the faid Abjalom Bull, Richard Bull, and Ifaac JVaugh, travelled 
from their homes down through Weftcheder County to White-Stone 
Ferry, where they croffed over to Long-IJIand, and thence to Hempftead, 
and went to the houfe of one Simon/on, a tavern-keeper, in that town ; 
that they went from thence to the houfe of Captain Hulet, where they all 
lodged ; that the next morning this deponent's companions went ofF from 
Rockaway in an oyfter-boat that plied between that coaft and the fhips, 
and fupplied them with provifions, as he was informed and believed ; 
that they defired this deponent to go with them, but this deponent being 
fick, and not much inclined to go on board, faid he would wait at 
Captain Hulet's till their return ; that after three days they all returned 
to this deponent at Captain Hulet's, aforefaid, and that Colonel Fanning, 
the Governour's fecretary, came with them ; that the faid Colonel Fan- 
ning was well known to this deponent, he having often feen him, and this 
deponent having been a mariner in Captain Hunter's fhip, which 
brought the Colonel from England ; that at prefent this deponent did not 
know Colonel Fanning, he being difguifed in the drefs of a common 
labouring man, but on taking this deponent afide he made himfelf known 
to him, whereupon this deponent immediately recollected his face and 
perfon ; that he afked this deponent to go on board with him ; this de- 
ponent anfwered that he was too fick to go ; that then the Colonel told 
him that if he could not go then, he muft come down when the fleet ar- 
rived, and that they would fend this deponent a letter to inform him of it, 
to which this deponent agreed. That Colonel Fanning told him New- 
York was to be the feat of war ; that fome of the fleet would run into the 
Sound, and land troops on Long- IJl and ; that another divifion would 

land 



( 89 ) 



land on the fouth fide and hoift the King's Standard ; and that all the 
men that engaged to fervc the King mould come to Long- IJland and join 
them, and that cannon was already provided in different parts of Long- 
IJland, and that there were then three field-pieces and a mortar-piece 
under the floor of the barn of the faid Simonfon. The faid C 
Fanning alfo told this deponent that they fhould want him to pilot veflels 
of war up the North River, and that the Savage, Phenix, and Sbuldan 
(which, he believes, was formerly the Rhode-IJland packet) were de- 
figncd for that fervice. That the Colonel defired this deponent to bring 
all the provifions he could on board the fhips, and that he fhould receive 
the following prices for them, viz., five pounds a barrel for fait pork, 
one fhilling per pound for gammons, eighteen pence per pound for butter, 
and a good price for fowls, eggs, &c, and then gave this deponent a 
paper fnow delivered,) with a fcal on it, and the letters W. T. on the 
back of it, and told this deponent that it would fervc him as a par. 
by all the men-of-war and cruifers unmolefted. That Colo Vanning 
further told this deponent that Abfalom Bull, aforefaid, had inliftcd a 
great many men, and defired this deponent to do the like, but this de- 
ponent declined it. That this deponent knows John Clarke, a painter ; 
that he faw him in this town about a fortnight ago ; that he told this de- 
ponent he was going on board the (hips, and requefted this deponent to go 
with him, which this deponent refufed ; that he advifed this deponent to 
engage to fight for the King, and faid the Americans would be beat. 
That the aforefaid Abfalom Hull this fpring fhowed this deponent a lift 
of perfons whom he had inliftcd for the King's fervice ; that the faid 
Abfalom told this deponent that there were two hundred names on it, 
which this deponent really believes to be true, but this deponent do e 
remember the names of any of them, except iiichard Bull, Alexander 
Scadden, James Scadden, IJaac Waugh, John Clarke, fthe painter 
aforefaid) Jewel Smith, and one Seely, of a place in Orange County, 
called Oxford. That Abfalom Bull aforefaid was to be a Captain, and 
had a commiffion for it from Governour Trym, which he fhowed to this 
deponent, and that it was written on parchment, and a great fcal hanging 
to it, but that th at did not read it. The faid Abfalom JJull 

further faid, that all the men fo inliftcd for the King's fervice were to join 

the 



( 9o ) 



the fleet when it arrived, and that all who did not, would be treated as 
deferters from the King's fervice. 

his 
John x Yates. 

mark. 

Sworn the 24th June, 1776, before us. 

John Jay, 

GoUVERNEUR MORRIS. 

To Captain Abeel, of Colonel Lasher's Battalion : 

Sir : Whereas Simerfon, of the Townihip of Hempjlead in 

Queen's County, Inn-keeper, ftands charged with dangerous defigns and 
treafonable confpiracies againft the rights and liberties of America, and 
that for the perpetration of fuch wicked defigns and confpiracies he hath 
divers cannon and other implements of war now concealed: we therefore 
by virtue of the power and authority unto us given by a refolve of the 
Congrefs of this Colony of the 20th of June inftant, do authorize and re- 
quire you to caufe to be apprehended and fecured the faid Simerfon 

with all his papers, and to make fearch for and take all Cannon and other 
implements of war whatfoever in his houfe, barn, and outhoufes ; and that 
return be made to us of the manner in which this warrant lhall be exe- 
cuted, in order that the fame may be made known to the faid Congrefs. 

Given under our hands this 24th day of June, 1776. 

In the Council-Chamber of the City-Hall of the City of) 
New-York, June 25, 1776. J 

The Committee met purfuant to adjournment. 

Prefent — John Jay, Efq., Chairman; Mr. Philip Living/Ion, Mr. 
llobart, Colonel Graham, Mr. Tredwell, Mr. Morris, and Mr. Ganfc- 
voort. 

Mr. Hobart and Colonel Graham reported a draft of a Warrant to be 
iflued againft fuch perfons of equivocal character as may neglect or refufe 
to appear on fummons ; which being read, amended, and agreed to, is in 
the words following, to wit : 

To : 

Whereas the Congrefs of the Colony of New-York, on the 5th day of 
June inftant, did pafs certain refolutions, reciting, among other things, 

that 



( 9i ) 



that * whereas there are in this Colony divers perfons who, by reafon of 
their holding offices from the King of Great Britain — from their having 
neglected or refufed to affociate with their fellow-citizens for the defence 
of their common rights — from their having never manifefted, by their 
conducl, a zeal for, and an attachment to the American caufe — or from their 
having maintained an equivocal neutrality, have been confidered by their 
countrymen in a fufpicious light — whereby it hath become neceffary, as 
well for the fafety as for the fatisfa&ion of the people, (who, in times fo 
dangerous and critical, are naturally led to confider thofe as their enemies 
who withhold from them their aid and influence,) that fundry perfons in 

the faid refolution named, of which number is one, 

and alfo all fuch other perfons of the like character as we, a Committee 
of the faid Congrefs for that purpofe by the refolutions aforefaid duly ap- 
pointed and authorized, may think proper, be fummoned to appear before 
us at fuch time and place as we fhould appoint, then and there to fhow 
caufe, if any they have, why they fhould be confidered as friends to the 
American caufe, and as of the number of thofe who are ready to rifk their 
lives and fortunes in defence of the rights and liberties of America againft 
the ufurpation, unjuft claims, and cruel oppreffions of the Britijh Parlia- 
ment — which rights and liberties, and which unjuft claims, and cruel 
oppreffions, are fpecified and ftated in divers addreffes, petitions, and re- 
folutions, of the prefent and late Continental Congreffes ;' and in default 
of appearance, we, the Committee aforefaid, on proof made of the fervice 
of the faid fummons, are authorized and directed to caufe them to be 
arrefted and brought before us by warrant under our hands, directed to 
any militia officer in this Colony, who is, by the faid refolves, required to 
execute the fame ; and whereas, in purfuance of the refolutions aforefaid 
of the faid Congrefs, we, the Committee aforefaid, did, on the . . . day 

of June inftant, iffue our fummons to the above mentioned to 

appear before us at the City-Hall of the City of New-York, on 

the day of , at o'clock in the 

.... noon of the faid day to fhow caufe, if any he had, why he fhould 
be confidered as a friend to the common caufe ; and which fummons was 

duly ferved on the faid , as appears by the return of 

, the Meffenger of this Congrefs, thereto duly appointed 

and fworn ; and whereas faid did not appear in purfuance 

of 



( 92 ) 



of the fummons aforefaid, but hath made default; We, therefore, the 
Committee aforefaid, in purfuance of the truft repofed in us by the re- 
folves aforefaid, do authorize and require you forthwith to arreft and bring 
before us, at the City-Hall of the City of New-Tork, the above-named 

, for the purpofe aforefaid, and to abide fuch order in 

the premifes as by us may be made ; and bring with you then there this 
warrant. 

Given at New-York. 

Mr. Hobart and Colonel Graham reported a draft of a fummons to 
perfons inimical to the caufe and rights of America ; which being read, 
was agreed to, and is in the words following, to wit : 

Whereas, by certain Refolutions of the Congrefs of the Colony of Nezv- 
Tork, of the 5 th day of June inftant, we, a Committee of the faid Con- 
grefs, were authorized and required to fummon certain perfons, whofe 
conduct had been reprefented to the faid Congrefs as inimical to the caufe 
and rights of America, of which number you are one, to appear before us 
at fuch time and place as we might think proper, then and there to anfwer 
to fuch matters and things as fhall be alleged againft them, and fhow caufe 
(if any they have) why they fhould be confidered as friends to the Ame- 
rican caufe: We do, therefore, in purfuance of the truft repofed in us by 
the faid refolutions, fummon you to appear before us for the purpofes 

aforefaid, at the City-Hall of the City of New- York, on the 

day of , at o'clock in the forenoon 

of the fame day. 

Ordered, That the Secretary prepare all the Summonfes directed to be 
iffued to the perfons named in the faid refolutions of Congrefs by to- 
morrow morning. 

Ordered, a/Jo, That a number of Warrants aforefaid be prepared. 
The Committee then adjourned for an hour to meet again at Scott's 
Tavern, in Wall Street. 

George Brewerton, of the City of New-York, Efquire, being examined 
faith : That he never was engaged in any defign of inlifting men to ferve 
the King againft the Americans ; nor was he otherwife acquainted with 
the exiftence of any fuch defign, except in the following manner : Cap- 
tain Ben/on, about three weeks ago, told this examinant he had heard 
that Gilbert Forbes was employed in inlifting men for the King's fervice, 

and 



(93 ) 



and afked this examinant whether he knew anything of it. That ex- 
aminant told him he knew nothing of the matter, and that if Forbes had 
engaged in that bufinefs he was a fool. That this examinant afterwards 
alked Forbes about it, and told him if he inlifted any men in that way he 
did wrong. That Forbes replied, that there was nothing in it, and that 
he was not engaged in any fuch bufinefs. That this deponent, inftead of 
aiding the Minifterial armies, had advifed and perfuaded men to inlift in 
the Continental fervice ; and without being applied to by the Committee 
for that purpofe did difpofe of feven or eight firelocks to be employed in 
the defence of the American caufe, and would have remained in this city 
and aflifted in defending it had it not been for the late riotous proceedings 
againft perfons fufpecled of being Tories, under which fufpicion this ex- 
aminant had fallen, as he fuppofes, from his refufing to fign the AfTociation 
of the Committee of Safety, to which he, as well as many other good 
friends to the caufe, refufed to fubfcribe. 

That this examinant has figned the firft AfTociation, and has no ob- 
jection to figning the laft, in common with his fellow citizens. That about 
five weeks ago, David Matthews, Efq., afked this examinant whether he 
knew Forbes. That this deponent faid he knew moft of the Forbejes ; 
and afked Mr. Matthews why. He faid that he had an account againft 
Governour Tryon, and that the Governour had fent money by him to 
pay Forbes. That the examinant then afked Mr. Matthews how the 
Governour came to owe him money. He replied that he believed it was 
for rifle-guns that he had fent him. On which this examinant obferved 
that it muft be Gilbert Forbes, the gunfmith ; and that this examinant 
faid he did not take him for fuch a fellow. Mr. Matthews faid that he 
was alfo much furprifed. Examinant faid he would fpeak to Forbes. 
That examinant afterwards faw Forbes, and afked him whether he had 
an account againft Governor Tryon ; to which he anfwered no. That 
examinant afked him if he had not fent things to the Governour; to 
which he faid no. That examinant then faid he thought he had heard 
the Mayor fay he had received money for him from Governour Tryon. 
Forbes then confefTed that the Governour owed him money. Examinant 
then left him without further queftions. That fome time afterwards ex- 
aminant received a few lines from Mr. Mayor, with fome money, 
informing this examinant that he was going out of town, and requefting 

him 



(9+ ) 



him to deliver it to Forbes, which examinant did. That this examinant 
does not remember that the Mayor defired him to difluade Forbes from 
the profecution of any defigns againft America ; but that this examinant 
did, as aforefaid, of his own accord, call upon Forbes, and fo difluade 
him as above related. 

This examinant moft folemnly declares that he never entertained or 
was concerned in any defign whatever againft the intereft and fafety of 
America. 

George Brewerton. 

Taken before us the 25th of June, 1776 . 

Philip Livingston, 
gouverneur morris. 

Know all men by thefe prefents, that we, George Brewerton and Jacob 
Brewerton of the City of New-Tork, Eiquires, are held and firmly bound 
unto John Haring, Efq., Prefident of the Congrefs of the Colony of 
New-Tork, in the fum of five hundred pounds, lawful money of the 
Colony of New-Fork, to be paid to the faid John Haring, his executors, 
adminiftrators, or afligns ; for the payment whereof we do bind ourfelves, 
our heirs, executors and adminiltrators, jointly and feverally by thefe 
prefents. Sealed with our feals, and dated the 25th day of June, 1776. 

The condition of this obligation is fuch, that if the above bounden 
George Brewerton fhall, upon reafonable notice unto him given, or left 
at the ufual place of his abode, attend the Provincial Congrefs, or a Com- 
mittee of the faid Congrefs, at fuch time and place as he fhall be 
required, then the above obligation to be void, elfe to remain in 
force. 



Sealed and delivered in the prefence of 



George Brewerton, 
Jacob Brewerton. 

Philip Livingston, 
Gouverneur Morris. 



Whereas George Brewerton, Efquire, flood charged before us with 

being 



( 95 ) 



being privy to certain dangerous defigns and treafonable confpiracies 
againft the rights and liberties of America ; and whereas, after ftridr. in- 
quiry into the feveral allegations againft the faid George Brezverton, we 
are of opinion that the faid charge is not well founded : We, therefore, 
in juftice to the faid George Brezverton, do hereby certify the fame. 
And as the faid George Brezverton, together with Jacob Brezverton, 
have given bond to the Prelident of the Congrefs of this Colony for the 
appearance of him, the faid George Brezverton, before the Congrefs of 
this Colony whenever called upon, for his good behaviour as a friend 
to the American caufe, do difmifs him from all further attendance 
upon us. 

Given under our hands the 25th day of June, 1776. 

To Mr. Wynant Van Zandt, a Lieutenatit in Colonel Lasher's 
Battalion : 

Whereas Nicholas Connery, of the City of Nezv-Tork, Innkeeper, 
ftands charged before us, by the oath of Hugh Steven/on, with having 
fold to the faid Hugh certain quantities of gunpowder, which there is 
great reafon to fufpect the faid Nicholas obtained from the enemies of 
America, and for the purpofe of injuring its caufe ; and whereas it is 
reprefented to us that the faid Nicholas is notorioufly difaffefted to the 
American caufe : We do, therefore, in purfuance of a certain refolve of 
the Congrefs of the Colony of New-York, authorize and require you to 
apprehend the faid Nicholas Connery, and make diligent fearch in his 
dwelling-houfe and other buildings for gunpowder, and other implements 
of war, and the fame in fafe cuftody to keep, and the faid Nicholas forth- 
with to bring before us, to the end that we may inquire into the premifes, 
and make fuch order in the premifes as may be neceffary ; and make 
your returns to us of the manner in which you (hall execute this 
warrant. 

Given under our hands this 25th day of June, 1 77^- 

John Jay, 

GoUVERNEUR MORRIS. 

City i?/* New-York, ss : 

James Campbell and Alexander Anderfon being duly fworn upon the 

Holy Evangelifts, do depofe, that they, together with Michael Tromper 

O and 



(96 ) 



and Abraham Brower, fomewhere about the 2d or 3d day of May, were in 
company at the houfe of Mr. Ellsworth at Paulus-Hook ; that while there, 
John Taylor came in, and after calling for wine, and preffing them to 
drink, pulled out a good many bills, declaring that he had then five hun- 
dred pounds about him, which he had received for lands fold by him in 
Morris County ; that he had been up there twice before, and received in 
all upwards of feventeen hundred pounds, and that he expe&ed to go up 
again and receive more. That thefe deponents were much furprifed to 
hear the faid Taylor make fuch declarations, as they took him to be in 
low circumftances, and knew him to be a man of infamous character. 
That the faid Taylor was then armed with piftols and a cutlafs, and gave 
as a reafon for carrying thofe arms that he was afraid of being infulted 
upon the road. And the faid James Campbell further faith that he be- 
lieves the faid John Taylor to be greatly difaffe&ed to the American caufe, 
as the faid Taylor is intimate with Gilbert Forbes and others of the like 
ftamp. And further he faith, that, at the time above-mentioned, the faid 
John Taylor pulled out a purfe, in which was gold and filver, about three 
inches deep and three or four inches in diameter ; and further thefe depo- 
nents, or either of them, fay not. 

James Campbell, 
Alexander Anderson. 
Sworn before us, the 25th day of June, 1776: 

Philip Livingston, 
John Jay, 
Gouverneur Morris. 

City-Hall, New-York, June 26, 1776. 

The Committee met purfuant to adjournment ; and, for want of room, 
adjourned to Scott's Tavern : Prefent, Mr. Philip Living/ion, Mr. Tred- 
ivell, Colonel Graham, Mr. Randall, Mr. Ganfevoort. 

The gentlemen prefent unanimoufly chofe Leonard Ganfevoort, Efq., 
Chairman pro tempore. 

The Committee refumed the confideration of the cafe of Doftor Samuel 
Martin. The proceedings of yefterday as to Mr. Martin were read ; 
and the Committee refumed the queftion, the determination of which was 
poftponed yefterday, and the fame queftion was put by the Chairman. 

And 



(97 ) 



And thereupon, Refolved, unanimoufiy , That it is not neceflary to re- 
move Dodtor Samuel Martin from the place of his prefent refidence, as 
there is not any proof offered or known to this Committee that he has 
broken the condition of his bond given to the Prefident of the Congrefs 
of this Colony on the 1 7th day of February laft. 

Refolved, unanimoufly , That Dr. Martin's parole be taken that he will 
not, directly or indirectly, oppofe or contravene the meafures of the Con- 
tinental Congrefs or the Congrefs of this Colony ; and that his parole, 
together with the above mentioned bond, is fufficient fecurity. 

Doflor Martin was called in, and figned a copy of his Parole, which is 
in the words following, viz : 

New York, June 26, 1776. 

I, Samuel Martin, of Hempjlead, on Naffau IJland, Phyfician, do de- 
clare, upon my honour, that I will not, directly or indireclly, oppofe or 
contravene the meafures of the Continental Congrefs, or of the Congrefs 
of this Colony. 

Samuel Martin. 

A certified copy of which Parole was given to the faid Samuel Martin. 
Mr. Martin then requefted that fome certificate might be given to him to 
prevent his being molefted by any perfons while his conduct, fiiall be agree- 
able to his parole. 

Thereupon a Certificate was given to Mr. Martin in the words follow- 
ing, viz : 

In a Special Committee of the Colony of New-York, ) 

June 26, 1776. ) 

Whereas Samuel Martin, of Far Rockaway, in Hempjlead, on Najfau 
IJland, Phyfician, did on the 17th day of February laft, give bond with 
fecurity to the Prefident of the Congrefs of this Colony, with condition 
thereto to behave himfelf peaceably, and make no oppofition to the mea- 
fures of the Continental Congrefs of the United Colonies or of the Con- 
grefs of this Colony of New-York, or to inftigate others fo to do ; and 
whereas the faid Samuel Martin alfo thjs day hath given his parole to the 
faid Congrefs of this Colony that he will not, directly or indirectly, oppofe 
or contravene the meafures of the Continental Congrefs or of the Con- 
grefs of this Colony : Therefore it is hereby recommended to all friends 
of the United Colonies, and to all other perfons whomfoever, not to mo- 
left, 



(98 ) 



left, interrupt, or difturb the faid Samuel Martin while he continues to 
fulfil the condition of his faid bond, and to obferve and keep his parole of 
honour. 

Ordered, That Summons do iffiie, &c. 

Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. 

Know all men by thefe prefents, that we, James Matthews, of Mat- 
thewsfield, in the Precinct of Cornwall, in the County of Orange, gentle- 
man, and 'Nathaniel Strong, of Blooming-Grove, in the Precinct and 
County aforefaid, Efquires, are held and firmly bound unto John Haring, 
Efq., Prefident of the Congrefs of the Colony of New-York, in the fum of 
five hundred pounds, lawful money of New York, to be paid to the faid 
John Haring, his executors, adminiftrators, or afligns ; for the payment 
of which fum we do bind ourfelves, jointly and feverally, firmly by thefe 
prefents. Sealed with our feals, dated the 26th day of June, 1776. 

The condition of the above obligation is fuch, that if the above bounden 
James Matthews fhall, on reafonable notice to him given, or left at the 
ufual place of his abode, attend the Congrefs of this Colony for the time 
being, or a Committee thereof hereunto duly authorized and appointed, 
and anfwer fuch matters as may be alleged againft him, and, in the mean 
time, fhall neither directly nor indirectly contravene or oppofe the mea- 
fures of the Continental Congrefs or the Congrefs of this Colony, but, on 
the contrary, fhall approve himfelf a good friend to the American caufe, 
then the above obligation fhall be void, otherwife remain in full force and 
virtue. 



Sealed and delivered in the prefence of 



James Matthews, 
Nathaniel Strong. 

Philip Livingston, 
gouverneur morris. 



I, James Matthews, Efquire, of Orange County, in the Colony of New 
York, do moft folemnly declare that the claims of the Britijh Parliament 
to bind, at their difcretion, the People of the United Colonies in America 
in all cafes whatfoever, are, in my opinion, abfurd, unjuft and tyrannical; 
and that the hoftile attempts of their fleets and armies to enforce fubmif- 
fion to thofe wicked and ridiculous claims ought to be refilled by arms ; 

and 



( 99 ) 



and, therefore, I do engage and affbciate, under all the ties which I:hold 
facred, to defend by arms thefe United Colonies againft the faid hoftile 
attempts, agreeable to fuch laws and regulations as my Reprefentatives in 
the CongrefTes or future General Affemblies of this Colony have, or fhall, 
for that purpofe, make and eftablifh. 

James Matthews. 

New York, June 26, 1776. 

IJrael Youngs being fworn, faith : That when he was firft put into the 
Jail of this city, viz : about fix weeks ago, he was confined there in the 
fame room with Thomas Vernon, of the city of New York, hoftler ; that 
the faid Thomas afked this deponent where he came from ; deponent told 
him he was born and brought up in Queen's County ; he afked this de- 
ponent if he knew John Hulet and Richard Hulet ; deponent faid he did, 
particularly "John, for deponent's brother had married his daughter ; that 
the faid Vernon thereupon fpoke very freely to this deponent on the fub- 
je£l of politicks, and faid he would be damned if the fleet did not come 
foon and let them all out; he confefTed to this deponent that he had feveral 
times been on board the Dutchefs-of-Gordon, where he had feen Richard 
Hulet and Thomas Cornell ; that he alfo feen Governour Tryon often, and 
that the Governour would talk very free with them ; that they had on board 
a number of Rivington's types and one of his printers ; that he had written 
a letter to the Governour the Monday before for money, and that he ex- 
peeled the next day to receive it ; that the next day the faid Thomas 
received a letter which he faid was from the Governour, and alfo fome 
water-work money, which he faid they counterfeited on board the Dutchefs, 
and he himfelf had feen them printing it off; that they had a cheft of it. 
This deponent fays that the money aforefaid refembled the faid water- 
work money fo much that he fhould have taken it for genuine, but that 
the paper feemed to be rather thicker. The faid Vernon further told this 
deponent that he kept a periagua, and he ufed to go after fand, and fo he 
got on board the Dutchefs. 

And this deponent further faith : . That the faid Vernon told him they 
were inlifting men in the King's fervice, and that a Captain in Colonel 
McDougaWs Regiment, whofe name this deponent cannot recoiled, had 
a commiffion from Governour Tryon for that purpofe ; that a man, whom 
the faid Vernon told this deponent was the faid Captain, came one day 

to 



L.ofC. 



( ioo ) 



to the door of the room in which this deponent and the faid Vernon were 
confined, and converfed with the faid Vernon through the hole of the 
door, but this deponent did not overhear them ; that when he went 
away, Vernon told this deponent that was the Captain who was in- 
lifting men for Governour Try on, and that he had got a hundred. The 
faid Vernon alfo told this deponent that he had, by Governour Tryon's 
order, engaged with Dawkins, an engraver, who had been taken up on a 
charge of counterfeiting money, to go on board the Dutchefs and cut 
money plates for the Governour, and that the Governour was to give the 
faid Dawkins a hundred pounds for his trouble ; and that the faid Vernon 
was to have carried him on board had not Dawkins got drunk and told 
him that he (the faid Vernon) was going to carry him on board, which being 
made known to him (the faid Vernon), he was afraid to attempt carrying 
him ofF at the time appointed, and that Dawkins immediately after difap- 
peared. The faid Vernon further told this deponent that he was in Jail with 
Dawkins before, that Dawkins left his cheft open, and that he, (Vernon) 
intending to take fomething out of his cheft and make him treat him for 
giving it to him again, opened the cheft and found in it a plate to ftrike 
Pennfylvania money, and kept it near a week ; that Dazvkins when he 
mifled it, was very uneafy, and he (the faid Vernon) again delivered it to 
him. 

This deponent further fays : That when Thomas Hickey and Michae/f 
Lynch, of the General's Guards, were apprehended for money-making, they 
were confined in the fame room with this deponent ; that they then curfed 
and fwore a great deal and damned themfelves if they would ever fight any 
more for America ; that this deponent talked Tory with them, and by 
that means they came to confide in him ; that Hickey and Lynch faid 
there were near feven hundred men inlifted for the King, and that the 
night before the fleet arrived they were to have notice of it, that they were 
to repair towards Kings Bridge and join them ; and that fome of the 
fleet were to go up the North River, and another party up the Eajl 
River, and lb furround the Ifland. Deponent underftood from them that 
they were both inlifted, and their names fent on board the man-of-war. 
They alfo faid that the Army was very corrupt, and fpoke very flightly 
of Colonel Mc DougaWs Regiment. That when the news came to their f 
room that the plot was difcovered, and that the Congrefs had taken up 

fome 



( ioi ) 



fome of them, the faid Hickey and Lynch feemed to be a good deal un- 
eafy, but they comforted themfelves in this : Lynch faid they had not got 
his name, for it was gone on board the man-of-war, and Hickey faid if 
they had got his name it was not of his writing, and therefore neither of 
them could be hurt. Lynch further faid that if the guards came to be a 
little thinner he would make his efcape through the windows. 

Israel Youngs. 
Sworn the 26th day of June, 1 776. 

John Jay, 
gouverneur morris. 

Gilbert Forbes being again examined, further faith : That he knows 

one Silk ; that he was left by Captain Aidey to wait upon his wife, 

who lives on Long- IJJ and, fomewhere near Hempjlead ; that he is often 
in town, frequently at Mrs. Oiry's and Mrs. Brandon's, has the air of a 
foldier, wears a fhort brown hunting coat and a double breafted jacket of 
the fame colour ; that he ufed to wait on a Mr. Miller, who lives or lodges 
in Mr. Gouvemour's houfe on Rotten Row ; that Sergeant Graham (an 
old foldier, difcharged from the Royal Artillery) was employed by Gov- 
ernour Tryon to fpeak to examinant about inlifting men for the King's 
fervice, and told this examinant, from the Governour, that if this examin- 
ant exerted himfelf in that buhnefs and raifed a number of men, he mould 
have a company ; that the faid Sergeant alfo informed him that, at the 
requeft of the Governour, he had furveyed the ground and works about 
this city and on Long-IJland, in confequence of which he had concerted 
a plan for an attack, which he had given to Governour Tryon, and of 
which the Governour approved, which was as follows, viz : that the man- 
of-war mould cannonade the battery at Red Hook, and while that was 
doing a detachment of the Army, with fome cannon, &c, mould land be- 
low or about Red Hook, and march round fo as to come upon the back 
of the batteries, near Swedeland Houfe ; that a fmall part of the detach- 
ment fhould make a feint of marching up the road leading direftly to the 
battery, but the main body were to make a circuitous march fo as to 
reach the battery while our attention was engaged by the feint aforefaid ; 
that if they carried that battery, which they expefted to take by ftorm, 

they 



( 102 ) 



they were immediately to attack the battery on the hill near the ferry, 
which the Sergeant faid would be eafily done, as no embrafures were 
made or cannon fixed on the back fide of it ; that this latter battery, when 
in their pofleflion, would command the works on Governour's Ifland, 
which they would keep between two fires, viz : the battery laft men- 
tioned on the one fide, and the fhipping on the other ; that then the 
fhipping, with the remainder of the Army, were to divide, one divifion 
was to run up the North River and land at or near about Clarke's farm, 
and march directly to Enclenbergh Hall, and fortify there ; the other di- 
vifion was to run up the Eajl River and land in fuch manner as to gain 
a footing on Jones's Hill, from whence they expected to command and 
filence the battery on Bayard's Hill ; that fhould they gain pofleflion of 
the places above-mentioned, their next object would be the grounds ad- 
jacent to King's Bridge, where they intend to eredl ftrong works, 
fo as to cut off the communication between the city and country. 

Gilbert Forbes, being further examined, faith : That fome time before 
the man-of-war removed from the town to the Narrows, one Webb, a 
burr-millftone maker, told examinant that if he had any rifles to fell he 
might get a good price for them by fending them on board the man-of- 
war, and that a young man who lived with James Rivington told him the 
fame ; that this examinant had then nine rifles, which he made, but they 
were bad and would not fhoot llraight, and eleven fmooth narrow-bored 
guns ; that he fent fome of them to one Mrs. Beck's, a tavern-keeper, near 
the Fly Market, with orders to fend them on board, which fhe according 
did, and that the faid Webb carried the remainder ; that the faid Webb 
told this examinant that Governour Tryon would give him three guineas 
apiece for them ; that at the time when an exchange of prifoners took 
place with the man-of-war, and Lilly was, among others, exchanged, the 
Mayor, viz : David Matthews, Efq., fent for this examinant and told him 
he was going on board the Governour's flap, and that he would get the 
money due from the Governour to this examinant for the rifles aforefaid ; 
that on his return the Mayor told this examinant he would pay him in a 
few days ; that this examinant never did receive any money from him 
for the faid fire-arms ; that this examinant told Charles Ben/on that he 
was about infilling men, and that he told this examinant it would do. 

Gilbert Forbes. 

Examined 



( 103 ) 



Examined by and before me, this 29th June, 1776. 

Philip Livingston. 



Thurfday, A. M., June 27, 1776. 

The Committee met at the City-Hall, in the Council Chamber, pur- 
fuant to adjournment. 

Prefent : Leonard Ganfezwort, Efq., Chairman pro tempore, Mr. Liv- 
ing/ion, Mr. Randall, Mr. Morris, Colonel Graham, Mr. Tredwell. 

Mr. Axtell attending according to the order of this Committee of the 
24th inftant, was called in. He fays that he is of the fame opinion that 
he was when laft before this Committee as to the figning of the parole 
which was offered to him — as his figning the parole might be con- 
ftrued on the other fide of the water an overt aft, and made ufe of to 
forfeit his eftate there. 

Mr. Axtell further fays that he is ready to give his parole not to take 
any a&ive part againft this country, or to do anything inconfiflent with 
the duty of a good citizen. 

Mr. Axtell, at the requeft of the Committee, withdrew. 

The Committee then took Mr. Axtell'r particular cafe into confider- 
ation ; and after fome time fpent therein, the Committee agreed that the 
particular fituation of Mr. Axtell's eftate and property is fuch as, in the 
opinion of this Committee, requires a particular provifion in his cafe, 
which it is not in the power r>f this Committee to make. That there- 
fore, this Committee will ftate his cafe (concealing his name) to the 
Congrefs of this Colony for their direction in the premifes, and, in the 
mean time, difcharge Mr. Axtell on his parole to attend this Committee 
on receipt of a letter or notice for that purpofe. 

Mr. Axtell was called in, and informed of the prefent determination 
of the Committee, and promifed the Committee to attend them again at 
any time on requeft. 

Mr. Axtell then further offered to the Committee, if it was thought 
neceffary that he fhould remove from his prefent place of refidence, he 
was very ready to remove with his family up Hud/on River, or to any- 
other County in the Colony, and to have limits affigned to him ; but that 
it would be difagreeable to him to remove out of the Colony. Mr. 
P Axtell 



( I0 4 ) 



Axtell further fays that if all the eftate he was poflefledof was in America 
only, he would not hcfitate to determine the matter and fully exprefs his 
fentiments, which, in his opinion, it is not proper for him to do in his 
prefent fituation. 

Ordered, That Summonfes ifTue againft the following perfons of 
equivocal character, returnable on Saturday, the 29th initant, at ten 
o'clock in the forenoon of the fame day, viz : Charles Nicoll, Donald 
Mc Clean, and Peter Graham. 

Which faid fummonfes, figned by all the Members fprefent as afore- 
faid, were delivered to the Secretary, with directions to give them to the 
MefTenger to be ferved. 

Ordered, That Summonfes iffiie againft the following perfons as in- 
imical to the caufe and rights of America, returnable on Monday, the ift 
day of July, next, at ten o'clock in the morning of that day, viz : Tlieo- 
philacl Bache, Charles Arden, John More, Sen., and Benjamin Williams. 

Which faid fummonfes, figned by all the Members prefent as afore- 
faid, were delivered to the Secretary, with directions to give them to the 
MefTenger to be ferved. 

Ordered, That fummonfes iflue againft the following perfons as inimical 
to the caufe and rights of America, returnable on Wednefday, the 3d 
day of July next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon of the fame day, viz : 
Frederick Philipfe and Samuel Merrit. 

Which faid Summonfes, figned by all thecneiubers prefent as aforefaid, 
were delivered to the Secretary, with directions to deliver them to the 
Meflenger to be ferved. 

Ordered, That a Summons be iflued to Richard Morris, Efq., as a 
perfon of equivocal character, returnable on Wednefday, the 3d day of 
July next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon of that day. 

Which faid Summons, figned by all the Members prefent as aforefaid, 
was delivered to the Secretary, with directions to deliver it to the Mef- 
fenger to be ferved. 

Ordered, That a fummons be iflued to Solomon Fowler, as a perfon of 
equivocal character, returnable on Thurjday, the 4th day of July next, at 
ten o'clock in the forenoon of that day. 

Which faid Summons, figned by all the Members prefent as aforefaid, 

was 



( '°5 ) 



was delivered to the Secretary, with directions to deliver it to the Mef- 
fenger to be ferved. 

Ordered, That Summonfcs iflue agairft the following perfons as inimi- 
to the caufe and rights of America, returnable on Thurfday, the faid 4th 
day of July next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon of that dav, viz : Na- 
thaniel Underbill, James llorton, Jun., and William Sutton. 

Which faid Summonfcs, figned by all the Members prefent as afore- 
faid, were delivered to the Secretary, with directions to deliver them to 
the MefTenger to be ferved. 

Ordered, That Summonfes be iflued to the following perfons as inimical 
to the caufe and rights of America, returnable on Friday, the 5th day of 
July next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon of that day, viz : Peter Corne 
and Peter lluggeford. 

Which faid Summonfcs, figned by all the Members prefent as afore- 
faid, were delivered to the Secretary, with directions to deliver them 
to the MefTenger to be ferved. 

Ordered, That Summonfcs iffuc againft the following perfons as inimi- 
cal to the caufe and rights of America, returnable on Saturday, the 6th 
day of July next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon of the fame day, viz : 
William Barker, Jojbua Purdy, and Abfalom Gidney. 

Which faid Summonfes, figned by all the Members prefent as afore- 
faid, were delivered to the Secretary, with directions to deliver them to 
the MefTenger to be ferved. 

Laftly, Ordered, That a Summons be iflued to the Honourable 
William Smith, as a pcrfon of equivocal character, returnable on Satur- 
day, the 6th day of July next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon of the fame 
day. 

Which faid fummons, figned by all the Members prefent as aforcfaid, 
was delivered to the Secretary, with directions to deliver it to the Mcf- 
fenger to be ferved. 

Ordered, That the Secretary prepare a ftate of the cafe of William 
Axtell, Efq., (but concealing his name) to be laid before the Congrcfs of 
this Colony for their direction in the prcmifes. 

Adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning. 

A cafe ftated by the Committee appointed by the Congrcfs of this 

Colony 



( io6 ) 



Colony to carry into execution their Refolutions of the 5 th day of June 
inftant, relative to perfons inimical to the caufe and rights of America, 
and thofe of equivocal character : A. B., holding an honorary office 
from the King of Great-Britain, and being a gentleman of fortune, was 
fummoned to appear before your Committee, and appeared at the time 
and place for that purpofe appointed. 

On his appearance before your faid Committee, the Chairman informed 
him of the Refolutions of this Congrefs as to perfons of equivocal cha- 
racter, and defired him to give evidence of his being a friend to the 
American caufe. The gentleman appealed to the uniform tenour of his 
conduct, which he faid, had never been unfriendly to his country. 
Being then afked whether he approves of the American oppofition, he 
replied that he did not on the whole, and fignified a difapprobation of 
the Canada expedition. On being aflced whether the Parliament of 
Great Britain, in his opinion, have a right to bind thefe Colonies in all 
cafes whatfoever, he faid that, in his opinion, they had not ; that he fully 
approved of the firfl part of the Aflbciation refolved on by this Congrefs 
on the 20th day of June, inftant. On being aflced whether a refiftance, 
by arms, to the hoftile attempts of the Britijh fleets and armies to en- 
force and execute their claims and demands was juftifiable, he declined 
to give an anfwer, but declared that the bulk of his fortune was in Great 
Britain and the Weft Indies, and that he did not mean to take an active 
part on either fide. 

Your Committee thereupon refolved that he is not fuch a friend to the 
American caufe as is defcribed in your faid refolutions of the 5th inftant; 
that his removal from his prefent place of refidence was unneceflary ; and 
that his parole, in the words directed by your faid refolutions, was fuffi- 
cient fecurity. 

The gentleman afligned objections to give his parole, and faid he would 
fubmit to fuch a difpofition of him as your Committee fhould make. He 
then had two days allowed him to confider of the faid parole, at which 
time he returned to your faid Committee. 

On his return to your Committee the gentleman was of the fame 
opinion as before, and faid he could not confent to give his parole " not 
to oppofe or contravene the meafures of the Continental Congrefs or the 

Congrefs 



( io 7 ) 



Congrefs of this Colony ; " as his giving or figning fuch parole might, in 
his apprehenfion, be conftrued on the other fide of the water to be an 
overt adl, and made ufe of to forfeit his eftate there. 

The gentleman offered to your Committee to give his parole not to 
take any aftive part againft this country, or do anything inconfiftent with 
the duty of a good citizen. 

He further voluntarily offered that if it was thought necefTary that he 
fhould remove from his prefent place of refidence, he was willing to 
move with his family to any County in the Colony, and to have limits 
affigned to him ; but intimated that it would be difagreeable to him to 
remove out of the Colony. He alfo informed your Committee that if 
his whole eftate was in the American Colonies only he would not hefitate 
to determine the matter, and fully exprefs his fentiments, which in his 
opinion, it is not proper for him to do in the prefent fituation of his 
affairs. 

Your Committee believe the gentleman to be a man of high honour 
and integrity ; and have not the leaft doubt but that any parole which he 
will confent to give, he will hold facred and perform : and he is to attend 
your Committee again on notice. But in the execution of the faid re- 
folves they have now no alternative but a warrant and force againft the 
gentleman, and confinement. The policy of this meafure your Com- 
mittee fubmit to Congrefs, and requeft their directions in the premifes. 

Mr. Nathaniel Underhill : 

Whereas, by certain refolutions of the Congrefs of the Colony j of 
New-York, of the 5th day of June inftant, we, a Committee of the faid 
Congrefs, were authorized and required to fummon certain perfons, whofe 
condudl had been reprefented to the faid Congrefs as inimical to the caufe 
and rights of America, (of which number you are one) to appear before 
us at fuch time and place as we might think proper, then and there to 
anfwer fuch matters and things as fhould be alleged againft them ; and to 
fhow caufe, if any they have, why they fhould be confidered as friends to 
the American caufe : We do, therefore, in purfuance of the truft repofed 
in us by the faid refolutions, fummon you to appear before us, for the 
purpofes aforefaid, at the City-Hall of the City of New-Tork, on Thurf- 

day, 



( io8 ) 



aay, the 4th day of July next, at ten of the clock in the forenoon of the 

fame day. Dated the 27th day of June, 1776. 

Leonard Gansevoort, Gouv'r Morris, 
Phil. Livingston, Thomas Tredwell, 

Thomas Randall, Lewis Graham. 

Summonfes were alfo iffued againft the following perfons : William 
Bayard, Efq., William Newton, Frederick Rbinelander, Mr. Cbrijlopber 
Ben/on, Mr. John Woods, Mr. James Coggejball, Mr. Samuel Burling, 
Theophilus Hardenbrook, Mr. John Millner, Mr. Benjamin James. (New- 
York or Flatiujb,) David Beatty, (Hempflead, Long IJJandJ Linus 
King, (New-York,) John Baltus Dajb, (New-York,) and Henry 
Law. 

To Mr. Solomon Fowler, at East-Chester : 

Sir : By virtue of the authority verted in us by certain refolutions of the 
Congrefs of the Colony of New-York, of the 5th day of June, in the year 
of our Lord 1776, reciting, that whereas there are in this Colony divers 
perfons who by reafon of their holding offices from the King of Great- 
Britain — from their having neglected or refufed to aflbciate with their 
fellow citizens for the defence of their common rights — from their hav- 
ing never manifefted by their conduct a zeal for, and an attachment to, 
the American caufe — or from their having maintained an equivocal neu- 
trality, have been confidered by their countrymen in a fufpicious light, 
whereby it hath become neceffary, as well for the fafety as for the fatif- 
faction of the people, (who, in times fo dangerous and critical, are 
naturally led to confider thofe as their enemies who withhold from them 
their aid and influence,) that certain perfons in the faid refolutions named, 
(of whom you are one,) who are generally fuppofed to come under the 
above description, fhould be fummoned by a certain Committee to fhow 
caufe, if any they have, why they fhould be confidered as friends to the 
American caufe, and as of the number of thofe who are ready to rifle 
their lives and fortunes in defence of the rights and liberties of America 
againft the ufurpation, unjuft claims, and cruel oppreffions of the Britifo 
Parliament, which rights and liberties and which unjuft claims and 
cruel oppreffions, are fpecified and ftated in divers addrefTes, petitions, and 
remonftrances, of the prefent and late Continental CongrefTes, and di- 
recting 



( i°9 ) 



refting certain proceedings in the faid refolutions fpecified to be by the 
faid Committee had againft fuch of the faid perfons as the faid Committee 
mail not adjudge and determine to be friends to the American caufe : We 
do, therefore, in purfuance of the faid refolutions, fummon you to appear 
before us, at the City-Hall in Nezv-Tork, on Tburfday, the 4th day of 
July next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon of the faid day, to fhow caufe, 
if any you have, why you fhould be confidered as a friend to the American 
caufe, and of the number of thofe who are ready to rifle their lives and 
fortunes in defence of the rights and liberties of America againft the 
ufurpation, unjuft claims, and cruel oppreffions of the Britifh Parliament, 
which rights and liberties and which unjuft claims and cruel oppreffions 
are, as aforefaid, fpecified and ftated in divers addrefTes, petitions and 
refolutions, of the prefent and late Continental CongrefTes. Dated the 
27th day of June, 1776. 

Leonard Gansevoort, Lewis Graham, 
Philip Livingston, Gouverneur Morris. 

Thomas Tredwell, Thomas Randall. 

To Colonel Willtam Allison : 

Whereas it is reprefented to us that David Baldwin of Bergen County, 
in New-Jerfey, but now in the City of New-Tork, can give very ufeful 
and important intelligence refpefting the late difcovered confpiracy againft 
the rights and liberties of America : We do, therefore, in purfuance of a 
refolve of the Congrefs of this Colony, authorize and requeft you to bring 
the faid David Baldwin forthwith before us, that he may be examined 
touching the faid confpiracy. 

Given under our hands this 29th June, 1776 : 

Philip Livingston, 
John Jay. 

The information of Mr. David Baldwin : Saith he has had reafons for 
fome time paft to believe there was a correfpondence kept up between the 
people of Ramapo and the men-of-war, as well from the temper of the 
people as from many words dropped from time to time. He fays that 
about the 17th inftant he was told that Lawrence Van Bujkirk, the 

miller 



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miller at Ramapo, Abraham Van Bufkirk, and a fchoolmafter, and Thomas 
Van Bufkirk, at Saddle River, were going on board the man-of-war ; that 
fomething prevented all but the fchoolmafter, who he verily believes did 
go, and that there is one Peter Van Bujkirk living at or near the Hook 
or mouth of the Kills in Bergen County, who, it is frequently faid, has 
followed trading with the men-of-war, who has reafon to believe, carries 
people on board whenever requefted, and has a fufficient craft for that 
purpofe ; and that this informant came to New-York on purpofe to let it 
be known ; that on his way he flopped at Er/s's in Bergen woods, where 
he was drinking tody, in company with Francis Stephens, late a refident 
of this city, who took him (the faid Baldwin) to be friendly to the Tory 
fide, when faid Stephens told Baldwin that there were fifty fail of King's 
fhips near the Hook and that there would foon be one hundred and fifty 
fail at New-York ; that Erls faid rum came from on board the man-of- 
war this week ; that Stephens charged the informant not to mention it to 
fome certain friends of his in New-York. 
Sworn the 29th June, 1776, before us. 

Philip Livingston, 
John Jay. 

Jofeph Baldwin, oppofite the King's ftores, tallow-chandler, is brother 
to the within informant, and will go on any expedition. 

Lift of prifoners fent by Lieutenant-Colonel Cary to Brigadier-General 
Greene, June 29, 1776. 

Jofeph Dorlant, and John Hutchins from Jamaica jail. 

John Carman, received powder, and abfconded in the woods. 

Andrew Allen, diflaffe&ed perfon, taken in the woods. 

Jacob Lamberfon, found with his gun charged. 

Benjamin Pedet, in the fwamp in the fight, and had powder from 
man-of-war. 

Ezekiel Rainer, in the woods hid. 

Richard Smith, in the fwamp battle, and had powder from the AJta. 

Jeremiah Bedle, a diflaffe&ed perfon. 

Daniel Smith, in the fwamp battle. 

Elijah Rainer, hid in the fwamp. 

Jofeph 



Ill 



Jofeph Beale, fame, difTaffedted perfon. 

Nathan Smith, received powder from the AJia, abfconded in the 
woods, and appears to know much of the fcheme. 

Town/end Wicks, a damned rafcal, and the greater!: Tory. 

William McKoon, Thomas Fleet, John Fleet, Peter Wheeler, Samuel 
Town/end, declared that they would fooner fight for the King than the 
Congrefs, and totally deny the authority of that body. 

James Coggejhall, gun-ftealer, or informer, from Newport. 

Henry Dearling, faid General Wajhington was more concerned in the 
confpiracy than any one. 

To Brig. Gen. Greene, Head-Quarters, Long-IJland, 
Hempftead, June 29, 1776. 

June 30, 1776 — Referred to the determination of the Congrefs of 
this Colony. 

T. Mifflin, Brig. Gen. 




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Of which 75 Copies are in quarto, 

and 25 Copies In folio, tinted paper. 







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